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Albert Hall - looks like the field has now been finalised (see inside) so I'll start chasing to see if the schedule's been sorted out yet. IP: 82.33.29.192 Posted on October 13, 2014 at 04:22:02 PM by Jean
13th October, 2014
STATOIL MASTERS TENNIS - OLYMPIC GOLD-MEDALLIST TO MAKE ROYAL ALBERT HALL DEBUT
The 2007 Australian Open runner-up Fernando Gonzalez will join Andy Roddick in making his Statoil Masters Tennis debut at the Royal Albert Hall, 3-7 December.
Gonzalez, who won Olympic gold in the doubles in Athens 2004 and silver in singles in Beijing 2008, will take on Roddick, Tim Henman, Greg Rusedski, Mark Philippoussis and Thomas Enqvist in the ATP Champions Tour event in London.
John McEnroe will also feature in exhibition legends matches throughout the week with players of his generation, while in doubles action, the ever-popular Mansour Bahrami, Henri Leconte and Peter McNamara will also return to IMG-owned and staged event.
“I am so happy to have the chance to play in the Statoil Masters Tennis,” said Gonzalez. “I love London, I have heard a lot about the beautiful Royal Albert Hall, and to have the chance to play against many of my old rivals will be a pleasure.”
The Chilean, now 34, is regarded by many as having the most powerful forehand in tennis history. At the Athens Olympics ten years ago, he won bronze in the singles before joining forces with Nicolas -Massu to take doubles gold.
It was at the 2007 Australian Open, when coached by Larry Stefanki, that Gonzalez enjoyed his most impressive Grand Slam singles run. He defeated Juan Martin Del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Rafael Nadal (6-2, 6-4, 6-3) and Tommy Haas in successive matches to reach the final. Only Roger Federer, at his peak, was able stop him. Later that year, Gonzalez, who reached a career-high ranking of No.5, defeated Federer at the ATP World Tour Finals.
As well as competing in the ATP Champions Tour event, Roddick, McEnroe and Henman will join Billie Jean King, Sir Elton John, Kim Clijsters and Sabine Lisicki for the Mylan World TeamTennis Smash Hits tennis charity event, which will be held in the evening session on finals day - Sunday December 7th. It is the first time that the event will be held outside the United States, and will raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The Statoil Masters Tennis has enjoyed record ticket-sales so far in 2014 and tickets are still available, with prices from £18.50 per person, at http://www.statoilmasterstennis.com/tickets/ or by calling the Royal Albert Hall box office on: +44 (0) 20 7070 4404.