| LOS ANGELES – French Open semifinalist Fernando Gonzalez headlines a group of early entrants into the LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance that will begin July 27. Two-time Grand Slam winner Marat Safin, 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, 2007 LA Tennis Open champion Radek Stepanek and Americans Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey are also expected to be in the 28-player field at the 83rd annual tournament.
"We’re looking forward to the LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance this summer and welcoming this distinguished group of experienced international stars," Tournament Director Bob Kramer said. "These players who have already committed to the tournament have done very well in their careers on some of the sport’s biggest stages. We’re eager to see how Fernando fares in Paris this week, and are excited he’ll be among this great group of players here in July."
Gonzalez, the 2007 Australian Open finalist, is likely to move into the top 10 following his ongoing run to the French Open semifinals. The Chilean took out World No. 3 Andy Murray in the quarterfinals and will face Robin Soderling in semifinals on Friday in Paris. Gonzalez, a three-time Olympic medalist, claimed a title earlier this year in his home nation at Vina del Mar. He’s 3-2 in LA, having reached the 2006 semifinals.
Safin, the 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open champion, will not only be playing the main draw of the LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance, but will be showcased in a special opening night "Millennium Challenge" match against Pete Sampras. That will be a rematch of the 2000 US Open final. A former World No. 1, Safin will be making his sixth appearance in LA, having gone 6-5 with two quarterfinals in his previous efforts.
Stepanek won the 2007 LA Tennis Open. In 2009, he’s claimed titles in Brisbane and San Jose while also reaching the final in Memphis. He is 24-10 in 2009, and boasts a ranking of No. 19. He’s 4-0 in his career in LA, with 2007 being his only previous appearance.
Baghdatis climbed into the Top 10 after reaching the 2006 Australian Open final. The Cyprus native reached the Round of 16 in Melbourne this year and has two other quarterfinals in 2009. He’ll be making just his second career appearance in LA.
Fish, an LA Tennis Open semifinalist in 2008, won Delray Beach and reached the finals in San Jose during February this year. At No. 24 in the rankings, he’s within seven spots of his career of No. 17. A part time LA resident with his new wife, Stacey, Fish is 6-4 in his career at the LA Tennis Center.
Querrey, who graduated from Thousand Oaks High School in 2006 and now lives in Santa Monica, is the youngest of the early entrants. The 21-year-reached the finals in Auckland earlier this year and claimed his first career ATP title last spring in Las Vegas. He is 1-2 in his previous appearances in LA. |
