SURPRISE, Ariz., Oct. 11, 2009 – Todd Martin defeated Andre Agassi 6-3, 7-5 Sunday to win the singles title at the $150,000 Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise. Martin earned $60,000 for the tournament victory, his first title in 2009 and his fourth career title on the Outback Champions Series, the global tennis circuit for champion tennis players age 30 and over.
“It’s nice to go out and play well against really good players,” said Martin. “I felt good out there. I felt in a rhythm. I found a great feel for the ball.”
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America Tennis Championships at Surprise is the seventh and final event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series. Martin’s victory was his first on the Series since he won in Naples, Fla., on March 16, 2008. Martin also won Outback Champions Series titles in 2006 in Boston and in 2007 in Newport, R.I. Last year in Surprise, Martin lost the championship match to John McEnroe by a 3-6, 7-6(3), 11-9 (Champions Tie-Breaker) margin.
Agassi, who earned $30,000 for the runner-up showing, was playing in his debut event on the Outback Champions Series. The event marked his first tournament appearance since he retired from his ATP career at the 2006 U.S. Open.
“I really enjoyed being here this week, with a lot of peers and familiar faces and the crowds were great,” said Agassi. “Three days in a row is a lot of tennis for me now. Hopefully I can improve next time.”
En route to the final, Agassi defeated Mikael Pernfors of Sweden 6-2, 7-5 on Friday night and Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 6-3, 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday afternoon.
Martin took control of the match from the start, controlling points with a high percentage of first serves and aggressive play off his backhand side. After winning the first set 6-3, Martin broke Agassi in the second game of the second set and held for a 3-0 lead. Agassi had a chance to break back, holding triple break point at 0-40 with Martin serving at 4-2, but Martin was able to claw back and hold for a 5-2 lead. After Agassi held serve, Martin served for the title at 5-3, but was unable to close out the match as Agassi’s powerful returns kept him alive. Martin was then able to break Agassi’s serve at 5-6 and clinch the match, benefiting from an Agassi forehand error on match point.
Said Martin, “I felt that as long as I didn’t get carried away with my serve I was really going to have a good day.”
Martin and Agassi played their final 10 years after the two met in the men’s singles final at the 1999 U.S. Open, won by Agassi 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-2. Agassi won 13 of 18 matches against Martin during their ATP careers, Martin last winning in the quarterfinals of the Paris Indoor in 1998.
Said Agassi of his experience in Surprise, “This week exceeded my expectations. It was a lot of fun. This is a competitive tour and these guys take care of themselves. You’ve got to come ready to play.”
In the third-place match Sunday, Aaron Krickstein concluded a memorable week of tennis by defeating Ferreira 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 (Champions Tie-Breaker) to earn the $25,000 third-place purse. Krickstein upset Jim Courier in the first round of the event on Thursday night before losing to Martin in Saturday evening’s semifinals.
“It’s tough sometimes to come back and play the next day after you lose, especially a tough match,” said Krickstein. “But pride is always involved and you want to win.”
Pete Sampras won the opening event on the 2009 Outback Champions Series, defeating McEnroe in the final of the Champions Cup Boston in February. McEnroe won the second event of the year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, defeating Jim Courier in the final. Sampras won his second title of the year at the Del Mar Development Champions Cup in Los Cabos, Mexico, defeating Patrick Rafter in the final. Courier won his first title of the 2009 season in April at the Cayman Islands, defeating Jimmy Arias in the final. Pat Cash successfully defended his title on the grass courts at the Hall of Fame Champions Cup in Newport, R.I. in August, defeating Courier in the final. Courier won his second title of the season in Charlotte in September, defeating Sampras for the first time since 1997 by a 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 (Champions Tie-Breaker) margin in the final.
Founded in 2005, the Outback Champions Series features some of the biggest names in tennis over the last 25 years, including Agassi, Sampras, McEnroe, Courier and others. To be eligible to compete on the Outback 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. The Outback Champions Series features seven events on its 2009 schedule with each event featuring $150,000 in prize money as well as Champions Series points that will determine the year-end Champions Rankings No. 1.
InsideOut Sports + Entertainment is a New York City-based independent producer of proprietary events and promotions founded in 2004 by former world No. 1 and Hall of Fame tennis player Jim Courier and former SFX and Clear Channel executive Jon Venison. In 2005, InsideOut launched its signature property, the Outback Champions Series, a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30. In addition, InsideOut produces many other successful events including “Legendary Night” exhibitions, charity events, corporate outings and tennis fantasy camps such as the annual “Ultimate Fantasy Camp”. Through 2008, InsideOut Sports + Entertainment events have raised over $4 million for charity. For more information, please log on to www.InsideOutSE.com or www.ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.