Qualifying draw beckons for players with an ATP ranking below 49
Men’s tennis is bringing a new dimension of quality to Switzerland. The Davidoff Swiss Indoors from 31 October to 8 November 2009 will boast an outstanding main field. The entry list for the highlight of the Swiss tennis calendar has been drawn up in Ponte Vedra (Florida) and has a cut-off point of ATP ranking 49. In practice, this means that players below this ranking will have to qualify for the main event. Moreover, the qualifying draw will include just 16 players so here, too, the quality of the field will be considerably higher.
Top-quality entries in the form of Federer, Djokovic, del Potro, Gonzalez, etc.
With more leading players than ever before, it is not just the strength in depth of the field which is unparalleled. Title holder Roger Federer (ATP 1) tops the list of seeds ahead of the Serb Novak Djokovic (ATP 4), US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro (ATP 5) and Fernando Gonzalez (ATP 12). Missing from the entry list is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ATP 7), who had had a long-standing contract to enter the event. A tax agreement in effect at his place of residence in the Canton of Vaud prohibits the French player from taking part in the Davidoff Swiss Indoors.
Federer to chase a further record
This premium event will see Roger Federer chasing another career record. Following three successive triumphs in the St. Jakobshalle, he can become the first professional to win four titles in this tournament, which enjoys a long-standing tradition. To date, only the Swede Stefan Edberg has succeeded in winning the title on three occasions. Having withdrawn from tournaments in Asia, the world’s number one ranked player and 15-time Grand Slam winner will be rested in preparation for the end of season run-in.
Will Juan Martin del Potro stand in the way of a Federer victory?
In addition to Roger Federer (champion at Roland Garros and Wimbledon), the Basel field contains another Major winner this year in the shape of Juan Martin del Potro. The new prince of world tennis beat Federer at Flushing Meadows to become the first Argentine to win the US Open on hard courts. The 21-year-old is developing into the perfect all-rounder. The South American sparked euphoria in his homeland, stealing the headlines from the country’s footballers, Diego Maradona included.
No easy ride for the favourites
Many other world-class players make up the extended group of favourites. These include former successful top 10 players such as Radek Stepanek (ATP 17), Tommy Haas (ATP 20), Stanislas Wawrinka (ATP 22), James Blake (ATP 24), Ivan Ljubicic (ATP 46) and Richard Gasquet (ATP 47). The "masters of the ace", namely the huge-serving Ivo Karlovic (ATP 31) and John Isner (ATP 41), also provide some fearsome opposition.
ATP reform agenda has a positive impact
The Davidoff Swiss Indoors is this year putting the finishing touches to its many years of groundwork and is being rewarded with the tournament’s reclassification in the ATP Tour. As the world’s third biggest indoor tournament, Basel was promoted to the ATP World Tour 500 series of events and, together with the tournament in Valencia, is an attractive highlight in the run-up to the ATP Tour World Finals in London, which the whole tennis world will be watching in earnest.
World premiere to open the tournament
The main tournament, which boasts an outstanding field, will be opened on Monday, 2 November 2009 to much fanfare in the truest sense of the word. Starting off the proceedings for the 40th edition of the tournament will be Roger Federer and the legendary Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé in a one-off mixture combining sport and culture. The Catalan, one of the most eminent opera singers of modern times, will perform at the opening ceremony, accompanied by the Opera Choir of the Theater Basel and by the Basel Festival Orchestra. The opening ceremony will begin at 17.30 hours and will be followed by Roger Federer’s opening match at 18.30 hours. Schweizer Fernsehen will be broadcasting live from the tournament throughout the entire week using the latest technology to provide top-quality production of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors in High Definition and giving a crystal-clear viewing experience for television audiences around the world.
Draw proves a hit with the public
In the last few years, the main draw has been held in the Rathaus, Basel’s city hall. Now, the Davidoff Swiss Indoors draw is taking a different path and moving to the mall of the newly opened Stücki shopping centre in Basel. The draw will be made on Saturday, 30 October 2009 at 17.00 hours and is open to the public. Over 2,000 people are expected to attend this first highlight. Those who prefer to stay at home can follow the draw live on Telebasel.
Internet makes it easy
Bring the centre court and all additional information into your home! To enjoy the virtual stadium from the comfort of their own homes, tennis fans simply need to click on www.davidoffswissindoors.ch.
Tickets are going fast
In view of the top-quality entries, advance tickets are selling fast. The centre court will continue to provide space for 9,000 spectators with all seats guaranteeing an excellent view. Tickets for Wednesday, 4 November through to Sunday, 8 November 2009 are sold out, but tickets are still available for Saturday, 31 October through to Tuesday, 3 November 2009 from the following advance ticket sales outlets:
Ticket hotline Tel. +41 (0)900 55 22 25 (CHF 1.00/min.)
Tickets online, Internet www.davidoffswissindoors.ch
Member cards, VIP tickets Tel. +41 (0)61 485 95 88
