Highly Rated Spanish Duo Headed for 2010 Heineken Open
The Spanish duo of former Heineken Open finalists World No15, Tommy Robredo and former world No1 and current No22 Juan Carlos Ferrero have confirmed they will play the 2010 Heineken Open January 11-16.
Tommy Robredo
Robredo has a total of nine titles to his credit including two in 2009. The first being in Costa Do Sauipe where he beat Thomaz Bellucci in the final and the second at Buenos Aires with a victory over Juan Monaco. The titles were part of a run of success which included a semifinal, two wins and quarterfinal in South American tournaments.
Robredo also had a consistent year in Grand Slams reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open, the quarterfinals at Roland Garros beating Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fourth round before being beaten by Juan Martin Del Potro.
At Wimbledon he equalled his career best performance at that tournament by making the third round. At the US Open he defeated James Blake in the third round but lost to Roger Federer the next round.
Robredo was a beaten finalist in Auckland in 2007 when he lost to countryman David Ferrer after some solid victories to make the final.
On four previous occasions Robredo, who is known for his superb fitness has made the quarterfinals of Grand Slams – 2003, 2005 and 2007 at Roland Garros and 2007 at the Australian Open. He has a career high ranking of No5, gained in 2006.
His father, Angel who is a tennis coach and is a big fan of the musical “The Who” named his son after the groups character Tommy. In June 2007, he and his father met the band at Wembley Arena.
Juan Carlos Ferrero
Ferrero has 12 career title wins including Roland Garros in 2003 and became the world No1 later the same year after finishing as a finalist at the US Open.
Other Grand Slam success includes a finals finish at Roland Garros in 2002. On five other occasions Ferrero has made the quarters or better of Grand Slams. The last occasion being this year at Wimbledon where he beat Fernando Gonzalez and Gilles Simon in succession before being downed by Andy Murray. In the lead up to Wimbledon he had a semifinal finish at Queens. There was also a finals appearance at Umag where he was eventually stopped by Nikolay Davydenko. His 12th title came on clay at Casablanca where he accounted for Florent Serra in the final ending a six -year drought of titles.
Other top results for the 29 year-old in 2009 include making the third round of the Masters event at Montreal as a qualifier beating Lleyton Hewitt and Gael Monfils before falling to Murray. There were also quarterfinal appearances at both Buenos Aires and Costa do Sauipe. Over the years he has been a vital member of the Spanish Davis Cup team and is expected to be selected for the side against the Czech Republic in the final next month.
January will be Ferrero’s sixth appearance in Auckland having first played in 2000 as a teenager where he beat another player from his age group named Roger Federer on an outside court and continued on to the quarterfinals. Ferrero lost an epic final in 2008 to Philipp Kohlschreiber and in 2009 returned for a replay of the final, this time in the second round in what was probably the match of the tournament, losing in a third set tiebreak to Kohlschreiber. He vowed to return and win the title this time.
Ferrero likes to collect motor bikes and cars with his favourite being a Renault Spider, he also likes to drive fast but has previously admitted to New Zealand media he’s not a fan of the speeding tickets he has also collected.
Ferrero draws his tennis inspiration from his mother, Rosario, who passed away when he was 17. He opened a tennis school, “Equelite-Juan Carlos Ferrero” in 2001 in his hometown of Villena, Alicante to promote tennis. He also owns an old cottage which has been converted to a luxury hotel just south of Valencia.
Heineken Open tournament director Richard Palmer says both players have a great pedigree at the Heineken Open and around the world. “You don’t get to win a Grand Slam and be number one in the world without having exceptional talent and that’s just what Ferrero has. He’s also had a great year winning a title and making the quarters at Wimbledon. He’s extremely popular with the crowd in Auckland and knows how to play and how to entertain.”
Robredo is very consistent finishing in the top 25 players for the past seven years. He has been ranked as high as 5 in the world. ‘He has proved himself against the best and will be a great asset to the Heineken Open,” Palmer adds.
Heineken marketing manager, Luke Rive, says the calibre of these two latest announced players, combined with already confirmed David Nalbandian, bodes well for an outstanding tournament which Heineken is proud to sponsor.
The Heineken Open takes place at the ASB Tennis Centre, January 11-16, 2010 with the first two days of qualifying January 9-10, at the Albany Tennis Park. The full field will be announced on Wednesday 2nd December.
For more information contact: Richard Palmer – Heineken Open tournament director, 021 675 006 or Dave Worsley, Heineken Open media manager,
021 365 224.
