Nottingham Open
Red Letter Days Open 2006
Thai ace guarantees Nottingham four former singles champions
Having reached the 3rd round of the Rome Masters (l/Roddick 7-6(4), 6-2) this week in Italy, Greg
Rusedski is assured of becoming the new British No.1 when the Indesit ATP entry rankings are revised
on Monday 15th May.
With just six weeks to go until the start of The Red Letter Days Open, the 32 year-old world no.45 may
also be feeling confident that he can further improve his ranking as the grass court season approaches.
However, though Rusedski has twice (1997 and 2003) won the Nottingham singles title, the powerful
left-hander will be aware that an unprecedented four former Nottingham singles champions are now confirmed
to compete in the East Midlands this June.
The decision of Paradorn Srichaphan (world no.36/ Thailand) to return to the tournament where he walked
away with the 2004 Nottingham singles silverware, guarantees tennis fans the opportunity to watch the
popular Thai in action and three other hard-hitting former champions. Last year, Richard Gasquet (France)
won his first ever ATP title on Nottingham's centre court whilst Greg Rusedski (1997 and 2003) and Thomas
Johansson 2001) also thrilled centre court crowds en route to being crowned a Nottingham champion.
The holder of five ATP singles titles, in 2006 Srichaphan is steadily recapturing the form which propelled
him to world no.9 in 2003 and a year later saw him defeat Sweden's Thomas Johansson (1-6, 7-6(4), 6-3)
in a thrilling Nottingham final. A quarter-finalist (Sydney and Chennai) at the beginning of this
season, the Thai who likes to wear the colour red for luck, progressed to the semi-finals of the ATP
Masters Series in Indian Wells before being eliminated (2-6, 3-6) by world no.1, Roger Federer.
Patrick Hughesman, tournament director of The Red Letter Days Open anticipates demand for tickets will
continue to soar as the public respond to the prospect of watching a quartet of champions in action.
Said Hughesman; "The Red Letter Days Open has always attracted a world-class draw. However, with four
former champions, including three currently ranked in the world top 30 and Rusedski as the new British
no.1, the tournament looks certain to confirm its strongest ever main draw when the line-up is finalised
over the next few weeks."
Hughesman added that over 4,300 tickets have already been sold for the tournament to be staged at The
City of Nottingham Tennis Centre between19th-24th June.
Wednesday 10th May
Rusedski signs in for The Red Letter Days Open
Greg Rusedski, the British No.2 and world no. 45 has today (Wednesday 10th May) confirmed that he will
be returning to Nottingham next month to contest the singles title of the prestigious Red Letter Days
Open (19 th-24th June). Crowned champion in 1997 (d/Karol Kucera 6-4,7-5) and 2003
(d/Mardy Fish, 6-3, 6-2), a quarter-finalist in 2004 (l/T. Johansson 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (5) and
2001 semi-finalist (l/T Johansson 6-7, 3-6), 32 year-old Rusedski remains one of only two ATP
players (with Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden / world no.72) to have twice lifted the Nottingham singles crown.
Whilst last year, Nottingham 's centre court watched Richard Gasquet (France / world no.28) lift his
first ever ATP career singles title, Rusedski is no stranger to ATP silverware. Since 1991, the
London-based player has won 15 ATP titles and reached 12 finals including Moscow in 2004 and the 1997
US Open final (l/Rafter).
6ft 4' tall, left-handed Rusedski has always been a popular figure among the East Midland tennis fans,
thrilling centre court crowds with his powerful ground strokes and a trademark rocket-fire serve.
In 1998 at Indian Wells, Rusedski held the record for the fastest ever recorded serve of 149mph.
Playing this week in Italy and scheduled to meet Stefano Galvani (Italy) in the 2nd round of the Rome
Masters, a strong performance in the tournament could theoretically see the British No.2 leapfrog his
compatriot Andy Murray in next week's rankings.
Whatever the outcome, Rusedski, a Great Britain Davis Cup team
stalwart continues to enjoy a 15 year-long
tennis career during which he has amassed over £5m in prize money. In 2005 he achieved his 15th
ATP title with a win over Vincent Spadea in Newport . Notably, of the three other players already
confirmed for the Red Letter Days Open, Rusedski has a 4-8 win/loss record against Thomas Johansson
whilst he's never played Richard Gasquet or Gael Monfils ( France / world no.35).
Commenting on the return of Rusedski to Nottingham, Patrick Hughesman , tournament director said;
"Greg (Rusedski) has a fantastic playing record at The Red Letter Days Open. I am delighted that
he will be returning to Nottingham where he will be chasing the unique feat of becoming the first
singles player ever to win the Nottingham title on three occasions.
Exciting to watch and highly popular
among our tennis fans, it's terrific news that this British and
world-class tennis star will be springing
back into action in the East Midlands next month."
With Thomas Johansson ( Sweden / world no.14), Richard Gasquet
( France / world no.28) and Greg Rusedski
(GBR / world no.45) all players who have tasted singles success at Nottingham , the stage is already
set for red hot tennis action at the City of Nottingham Tennis Centre in June.
Greg Rusedski – player biography
Age: 32
Current Indesit ATP entry ranking: 45
Born: Montreal , Quebec , Canada.
Plays: Left handed
Turned professional: 1991
Singles titles: 15 including 1997 and 2003 Nottingham champion
Singles finals: 12 including Moscow 2004 and 1997 US Open
Nottingham record: Twice champion; 2001 semi-finalist and 2004 quarter-finalist
21st April 2006
2001 champion Johansson signs in for Nottingham
With an impressive nine singles ATP career titles to his name, including St Petersburg in 2005,
organisers of the Red Letter Days Open (19th-24th June) confirmed today (Friday 21st) that Sweden's
Thomas Johansson will return to the grass courts of Nottingham to contest the prestigious grass court title.
Currently ranked 14th in the Indesit ATP entry rankings, Johansson's 2005 season also showed why he
is currently one of the best grass court players on tour. Reaching the quarter finals in Nottingham
in 2005 before injury forced him to retire in his match against Taylor Dent (USA) he went on to
secure a semi-final place at The Championships, Wimbledon (l/Roddick).
No stranger to the City of Nottingham, the Monaco based player defeated Greg Rusedski (GBR) in the
semi's and Harel Levy (Israel) 7-5, 6-3 in the final to lift the 2001 Nottingham Open title. In 2004,
the 5ft 11 Swede was only denied a further Nottingham singles title 6-1, 6-7 (4), 3-6 by an inspired
performance from one of the Far East's sporting legends, Paradorn Srichaphan ( Thailand).
The Swedish No.1 said; "I've always enjoyed competing at Nottingham. The matches are always tough but
having won there in 2001 and reached the latter stages on several occasions in recent years, it's
definitely one of my favourite tournaments. The 2006 Red Letter Days Open promises to be as challenging
as ever but it would be terrific to win the singles title again and become one of only several players
(including fellow Swede, Jonas Bjorkman) to lift the Nottingham title twice."
Notably, the 2002 Grand Slam winner of the Australian Open Johansson has never played Richard Gasquet
of France (world no.27) the defending champion of the Red Letter Days Open.
Patrick Hughesman , tournament director of the Red Letter Days
Open expressed his delight that the player whose career prize
money to date exceeds $6m, will once again do battle at Nottingham.
"Thomas Johansson has been a tremendous supporter of the Red Letter
Days Open over the years and is popular with the crowds.
Of course, he also has a formidable ATP playing record including
his 2001 win at Nottingham and being crowned 2002 Australian
Open champion. As his 2005 semi-final appearance at The Championships, Wimbledon
highlighted, Thomas is a world-class player with a terrific grass
court game and promises to thrill the
crowds at the Red Letter Days Open this June."
Hughesman added that the 2006 Red Letter Days Open continues to
break box office records with 3264 tickets
now sold for the tournament.
7th April 2006
Young French No.3 says 'oui' to Nottingham
Today (Friday 7th April) organisers confirmed that Gael Monfils, the rising French star of
professional men's tennis, has said 'oui' to returning to Nottingham to compete for the Red
Letter Days Open singles title.
Last year, when the 19 year-old Frenchman nicknamed 'Lamonf' competed in the East Midlands
he was ranked only 79th in the world, albeit after climbing a phenomenal 700 world ranking
places in only 12 months. However, today the prodigiously talented Parisien is ranked 30th
in the Indesit ATP entry rankings, 15 places higher than British No.1 Andy Murray and only
14 places behind Monfils countryman, friend and reigning Red Letter Days Open champion,
Richard Gasquet.
Commenting on Monfils decision to return to Nottingham , tournament director Patrick Hughesman
said: "It's terrific news for tennis fans that Gael Monfils, the French No.3, will join world
No.16 Richard Gasquet at the 2006 Red Letter Days Open. An exciting player to watch, Monfils
is another of the young guns vying for a place in the world top ten. He has already highlighted
his world-class talent by winning his first ATP title at the end of last year and reaching three
finals."
Certainly, the past twelve months have seen the young Frenchman steadily make his presence felt on
the ATP circuit. Like Gasquet, 2005 was also the year Monfils won his first ATP singles when he
defeated Florian Mayer ( Germany) 7-6, (6), 4-6, 7-5 in Sopot, Poland . That made up for his
disappointment of being eliminated 2-6, 6-2, 3-6 by Karol Beck (Slovakia) in the first round of
his debut appearance at Nottingham and it was not long before Monfils further reconfirmed his
star quality by reaching finals in Metz (l/Ivan Ljubicic) and Lyon (l/Andy Roddick). In 2006,
Monfils has continued his run of form, reaching the finals in Doha , Qatar where he worked hard
to push world No.1, Roger Federer ( Switzerland) before losing 3-6, 6-7(5). Last month he competed
in the ATP Masters Series at Indian Wells (USA) where he lost in the 3 rd round to world no.5,
Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia).
Notably, the 6ft 4 right handed Parisien has played Richard Gasquet twice,
on both occasions in the Q/F stages of the Metz Open in France. Whilst in
2004 it was Gasquet who won their first encounter (5-7, 1-6) a year later
it was Monfils who gained the upper hand with a 7-6, 6-3 first-round
win over his friend and rival.
31 March 2006
Nottingham promises Gasquet a perfect cut
Speaking from the US earlier this week, Richard
Gasquet acknowledged that with the tournaments
history of attracting world-class players, it will
be a tough challenge to retain his singles title
when he competes at the Red Letter Days Open (19-24th June)
in Nottingham. However, the current world no.12 in
the Indesit ATP entry rankings, already well on target
to achieve his aim of breaking into the top 10 this year,
reaffirmed that he likes competing on grass. "I showed
that at Nottingham and also when I reached the 4th
round at Wimbledon. I feel comfortable with my grass
game" said the 19 year-old.
Whilst the Frenchman with the powerful backhand focuses
on further improving his ranking, preparations are well
underway to ensure the defending champion is assured of
grass courts prepared to perfection at the City of
Nottingham Tennis Centre. Certainly, Grounds Manager,
David Lawrence is confident his team can serve up a winning
surface. "The players should once again expect hard and
fast grass" advised the man whose courts have consistently
been praised by players and officials alike.
"We've already done four cuts on centre court so on the
threshold of April we're already well ahead of schedule"
said Lawrence. Following a recent decision by organisers to
hold more doubles matches on centre court during tournament week,
Lawrence added that he has quietly been making preparations
to ensure the all important grass centre court can cope with
many sets of rapid fire action. "We are going to do an extra
dressing on the courts next week in order to get more clay
into the ground. That will further bind the soil and provide
additional strength to the grass court surface during
tournament week" explained the grounds maestro.
