John McEnroe will face Jim Courier and Mark Philippoussis will take on Michael Chang in Saturday showdowns at the $150,000 Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships with the winners of both matches advancing into Sundays championship match at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex.
All four players increased their round-robin records to 2-0 with straight-set victories Friday. During the afternoon session, Philippoussis started the day by defeating Jimmy Arias 6-3, 6-2, followed by Chang besting Aaron Krickstein 6-3, 6-3. In the evening session, Courier edged Wayne Ferreira 6-4, 6-4, while McEnroe defeated Jeff Tarango 6-4, 6-4.
Chang and Philippoussis will play in the third scheduled match during the noon day session Saturday, while McEnroe and Courier will play in the opening match of the 6 pm night session. The losers of both matches will play in Sundays noon third-place play-off which precedes the championship match.
Philippoussis continued his strong play against Arias, dictating play from the baseline with his forehand and connecting on 70 percent of his powerful first serves.
I felt like I hit the ball a little better today, said Philippoussis, who defeated Krickstein 6-3, 6-2 in his opening round-robin match on Wednesday night. [On the] forehand I had some good rhythm, good work on the ball today. I was happy with the way I served as well.
Arias said he was impressed with the mobility of Philippoussis, who has struggled with his court movement in recent years, recovering from six surgeries for multiple injuries that have plagued the Australian during his career on the ATP World Tour and Champions Series circuit over the last few years.
I couldnt believe how fast he has gotten in the last year, said Arias. Once I saw him running the way he was running, I realized I was in a bit of trouble.
Chang was just a bit steadier and a bit more powerful off the ground for Krickstein in their baseline battle, jumping out to 4-1 leads in both sets.
Our games were so tight, a couple of points here and there just made the difference, said Chang. He had chances and I had chances, and I was able to capitalize on a couple more. We both had to move out there and cover a lot of court. If Im going to have to move, Im gonna make him move as well.
In order to beat Philippoussis on Saturday and advance into Sundays championship match, Chang said that getting a high number of service returns in play will be the key.
If you dont get serves back, said Chang, hes gonna cruise through his own service games and go for his shots.
Courier and Ferreira played some of the highest level tennis of the week as both players traded piercing ground strokes over two hard-fought sets. Courier was able to notch the first service break of the match in the final game of the first set, capping his breakthrough with a perfectly-placed forehand lob over Ferreira’s head on set point. In the second set, the two-time French and Australian Open champion raced to a 3-1 lead and held on for victory, using powerful serves and forehands to control almost all of the rallies and points.
I struggled a little bit (with my serve) in the first couple games, but then I got in a better rhythm, said Courier. That was important because (Wayne) can really hurt you if you let him start jerking you around with his heavy topspin, so if I can control a point that just gives me lots of opportunities to finish points.
With only McEnroe in his way of reaching the final for the first time in Surprise, Courier said he was looking forward to the challenge.
As you get toward the finish line, you tend to focus more, said Courier. I expect the intensity to ratchet up even more against McEnroe Saturday night.
McEnroe was all business against Tarango, consistently hitting his low backhand slice and executing his famed serve-and-volley game to throw off the rhythm of Tarango. The 51-year-old four-time U.S. Open champion and three-time Wimbledon champion will be seeking his second title in Surprise after defeating Todd Martin in the 2008 final.
The schedule of play for the remainder of the tournament is as follows:
Saturday, October 23
Starting at Noon
Jimmy Arias vs. Aaron Krickstein
Followed by
Anna Kournikova/Jeff Tarango vs. Ashley Harkleroad/Wayne Ferreira
Followed by
Michael Chang vs. Mark Philippoussis
Starting at 6 pm
John McEnroe vs. Jim Courier
Followed by
Anna Kournikova/Jimmy Arias vs. Ashley Harkleroad/Aaron Krickstein
Followed by
Wayne Ferreira vs. Jeff Tarango
Sunday, October 24
Starting at Noon
Third Place Match
Followed by
Championship Match
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships is a third-year event on the Champions Series tennis circuit, the New York-based global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, 14469 W. Paradise Lane and also online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.
To be eligible to compete on the Champions Series, players must have reached at least a major singles final, been ranked in the top five in the world or played singles on a championship Davis Cup team. Each event features $150,000 in prize money with the tournament champion earning $60,000 and ranking points that determine the year-end No. 1. Courier finished the 2009 season as the top-ranked player on the Champions Series, followed by Pete Sampras and Todd Martin.
Former U.S. and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis defeated John McEnroe to win the Staples Champions Cup in Boston in May and take over the No. 1 Champions Series ranking. Former French Open semifinalist Fernando Meligeni of Brazil was the surprise winner of the opening event on the 2010 Champions Series, winning the title in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil by defeating Philippoussis in the final.
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