FLUSHING, N.Y., September 9, 2009 – Team Lendl defeated Team King 24-16 in Overtime to win the first match of the US Open Champions Invitational today at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The event, which uses the World TeamTennis format for the first time in US Open history, features a lineup of Grand Slam champions and finalists competing on co-ed teams.
Team Lendl, coached by three-time US Open champion Ivan Lendl, jumped to an early lead as Jimmy Arias downed Luke Jensen in singles, 5-3. Arias then paired up with Guillermo Vilas to boost their overall advantage to 10-5 with a 5-2 doubles win over Jensen and Stan Smith.
Team King’s tandem of Mary Joe Fernandez and Gigi Fernandez may have won two Olympic gold medals in doubles together, but they were outgunned this afternoon by two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin and Conchita Martinez, 5-2, in women’s doubles.
Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon singles champion, held on for 5-4 win over Mary Joe Fernandez in women’s singles to give Team Lendl a 9-point advantage heading into the final event.
Team King, coached by WTT co-founder Billie Jean King, rallied in mixed doubles when Smith and Gigi Fernandez topped Austin and Vilas 5-3 to send the match into Overtime. The match was highlighted by back-to-back aces from Tracy Austin against Stan Smith. Austin and Vilas held on to win the first game of Overtime and end the match with a 24-16 team victory.
The Champions Invitational continues on Thursday on Court 4 at 4 p.m. with Team King taking on Team Cash, coached by Pat Cash. Team Lendl returns on Saturday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. to face Team Cash in the final match of the Champions Invitational.
The three teams, which have a combined total of 33 seasons of World TeamTennis experience, play two matches each between Sept. 9-12. Each match consists of one set each of men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles. The event will use the traditional WTT format, which includes cumulative scoring, sets to five games, no-ad scoring, playing let serves, Overtime and Supertiebreakers.
TEAM KING: Mary Joe Fernandez, Gigi Fernandez, Stan Smith and Luke Jensen.
Coach: Billie Jean King
TEAM LENDL: Tracy Austin, Conchita Martinez, Guillermo Vilas and Jimmy Arias.
Coach: Ivan Lendl
US OPEN CHAMPIONS INVITATIONAL RESULTS – Sept. 9, 2009
Team Lendl def. Team King 24-16 (OT)
Men’s Singles: Jimmy Arias (Team Lendl) def. Luke Jensen (Team King) 5-3
Men’s Doubles: Jimmy Arias/Guillermo Vilas (Team Lendl) def. Luke Jensen/Stan Smith (Team King) 5-2
Women’s Doubles: Tracy Austin/Conchita Martinez (Team Lendl) def. Gigi Fernandez/Mary Joe Fernandez (Team King) 5-2
Women’s Singles: Conchita Martinez (Team Lendl) def. Mary Joe Fernandez (Team King) 5-4
Mixed Doubles: Stan Smith/Gigi Fernandez (Team King) def. Guillermo Vilas/Tracy Austin 5-3
OVERTIME: Guillermo Vilas/Tracy Austin (Team Lendl) def. Stan Smith/Gigi Fernandez (Team King) 1-0
SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, SEPT. 10
4 pm – Court 4 (subject to change)
Team Cash vs. Team King
TEAM KING: Mary Joe Fernandez, Gigi Fernandez, Stan Smith and Luke Jensen.
Coach: Billie Jean King
TEAM CASH: Iva Majoli, Hana Mandlikova, Ilie Nastase and Todd Martin.
Coach: Pat Cash
Check www.USOpen.org for more details on the US Open Champions Invitational.
Match Times (time/court subject to change – refer to official US Open schedule):
Thursday, Sept. 10 – 4 pm: Court 4 – Team Cash vs. Team King
Saturday, Sept. 12 – 11 am: Court 4 – Team Cash vs. Team Lendl