The all star line-up for 2005 China Open
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-29 06:21

Reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams head an all start cast at the 2005 China Open, raising the number of Grand Slam event winners participating in the tournament to nine.

Apart from the Spanish youth sensation and the American veteran, a bunch of world's top players will make their debut in China's capital.

In the men's draw, the 2004 French Open finalist Guillermo Coria, 2005 French Open semi-finalist Nikolay Davydenko and Feliciano Lopez, who reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon this year, are the new faces.

But the appearance of women's world No 1 Lindsay Davenport gives Chinese tennis fans something extra to cheer about.

Davenport who kept up amazing form this year by getting into the finals of Australian Open and Wimbledon and the semi-finals of the French Open, is the latest big name on the list as the organizers revealed that the American agreed to travel to China just a few days ago.

"We are very proud that we are able to invite Lindsay and the other stars to participate in the China Open this year," said Ekkehard Rathgeber, director of the 2005 China Open.

"Their participation proves the influence of the China Open is growing."

It will also be the first opportunity for Williams sisters to compete together on Chinese mainland, after Serena Williams, winner of the women's singles at the inaugural China Open last year, confirmed her participation for this year's competition.

Serena was upset by compatriot Jill Craybas and denied a chance to meet Venus in the fourth round of this year's Wimbledon championships.

Marat Safin, winner of the men's singles at last year's China Open and reigning Australian Open champion, will also come back to defend his title.

Other noted names in the men's side are former French Open champions Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero and former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian.

Maris Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion and semi-finalist in three Grand Slam events this year, 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova are two more of the many eye-catchers in the women's competition.

China will also put forward a strong line-up with its best women's players.

The nation's top two women's players Li Na and Zheng Jie, plus Athens Olympic Games women's doubles gold winners Li Ting and Sun Tiantian, will carry the nation's hopes.

The organizers have vowed to improve on last year's tournament, using what they learned whilst organizing that event.

"Our goal is to develop the tournament into one's of the top five tennis tournaments," said Rathgeber, also Chief Operation Officer of Hong Kong-based Tom Group, this year's new organizer.

Over 200 players will participate in the China Open, which includes ATP, WTA and ITF tournaments this year.

The tournament will be held from September 10th-25th at the Beijing Tennis Centre located in the south of Beijing. The men's competition runs from 10th to 18th and the women's from 17th-25th.

The total prize money of the event is US$1.1 million.

(China Daily 07/29/2005 page15)

Close

Photo exhibition features friendly exchanges World Carnival to open today in Beijing First Wal-Mart store opens in Shanghai

Today's Top News     Top China News
4th US-Pyongyang face-to-face meeting planned         Sino-US relations good for peace, stability         Death toll up; disease 'under control'         State okays new postal savings bank         Personal income tax threshold to be raised         India's record-breaking rains kill over 500	China starts producing pig-borne disease vaccine       Ex-official sentenced to death for corruption       Trade surplus rocketing brings pressure       Is it time to start culling big bad wolf?       House okays bill aimed at subsidized China goods       RMB appreciation helps nation's airlines