Kim Clijsters and Mark Philippoussis lead the Australian Open Macca’s Legends Tournament


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Copyright © 2016. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Australian Open Tennis News

Former world No.1 and Australian Open 2011 champion Kim Clijsters (BEL) and Australian Davis Cup hero Mark Philippoussis (Vic) will lead the star-studded field at Melbourne Park in the Australian Open Macca’s Legends Tournament.

Philippoussis showed he’s still in excellent playing shape as he took to the court today before announcing the field and previewing the 2016 tournament.

“Playing last year was a great experience – it’s always a thrill to come back to Melbourne and play in front of the home crowd. I’m really looking forward to joining the field of the Macca’s Legends Tournament this year,” Philippoussis said.

This will be Clijsters first visit to Melbourne since reaching the Australian Open semifinals in 2012 and signifies the fifth anniversary of her emotional win over Li Na (CHN) in 2011.

Also new to the field in 2016 is two-time Australian Open singles finalist and three-time doubles champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (ESP) and Magnus Norman (SWE), now coach of Australian Open 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka.

They will be joined by Henri Leconte (FRA); Pat Cash (Vic); Goran Ivanisevic (CRO); the Swedish contingent of Jonas Bjorkman, Magnus Norman, Mats Wilander, Thomas Johansson and Thomas Enqvist; Mansour Bahrami (FRA); Michael Chang (USA); Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS); Wayne Ferreira (RSA) and Aussie favourites Todd Woodbridge (NSW), Mark Woodforde (SA) and Wayne Arthurs (Vic).

Joining Clijsters and Sanchez Vicario in the women’s field is Barbara Schett (AUT); Iva Majoli (CRO); Lindsay Davenport (USA); Marion Bartoli (FRA); Martina Navratilova (USA); Nicole Bradtke (Vic) and Rennae Stubbs (NSW).

Macca’s National Legends Tour Director Todd Woodbridge said fans could again expect exciting, competitive and entertaining tennis from the legends at Australian Open 2016.

“This highly-credentialed Legends field holds more than 130 Grand Slam singles and doubles titles between them, including 30 Australian Open titles, an outstanding statistic. There are sure to be some hard-fought battles and the fans will enjoy seeing some traditional rivals and old favourites in action,” Woodbridge said.

The inaugural Macca’s Legends match at Brisbane International presented by Suncorp features Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Cash as a warm up for the women’s final match on Saturday 9 January.

Greats of the women’s game Martina Navratilova and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario will team up with Henri Leconte and Mark Philippoussis in what promises to be an entertaining mixed doubles display ahead of the women’s Apia International Sydney final.

This is the second year McDonald’s has partnered with the Australian Open Macca’s Legends Tournament, which has been extended to include matches in Sydney and Brisbane.

The Australian Open Macca’s Legends Tournament will begin on Saturday 23 January 2016 at Melbourne Park and most of the matches will be accessible with an Australian Open Ground Pass.

 

 

Australian Open Macca’s Legends fast facts

Six former world No.1s: Mats Wilander (SWE), Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS), Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (ESP), Lindsay Davenport (USA), Martina Navratilova (USA) and Kim Clijsters (BEL)

Eight former doubles world No.1s: Jonas Bjorkman (SWE), Mark Woodforde (AUS), Todd Woodbridge (AUS), Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (ESP), Lindsay Davenport (USA), Mhartina Navratilova (USA), Rennae Stubbs (AUS) and Kim Clijsters (BEL)

Ten Australian Open singles titles: Mats Wilander (1983-84, 1988), Thomas Johansson (2002), Yevgeny Kafelnikov (1999), Lindsay Davenport (2000), Martina Navratilova (1981, 1983, 1985), Kim Clijsters (2011)

Twenty Australian Open doubles titles: Jonas Bjorkman (1998-99, 2001), Mark Woodforde (1992, 1997), Todd Woodbridge (1992, 1997, 2001) Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (1992 1995-96), Martina Navratilova (1980, 1982-85, 1987-89), Rennae Stubbs (2000)

 

131 Grand Slam titles: 44 singles and 87 doubles Grand Slam titles

 

Twenty-five players from ten different nations

 

 

Australian Open Macca’s Legends field

Men
Goran Ivanisevic (CRO)
Henri Leconte (FRA)
Jonas Bjorkman (SWE)
Magnus Norman (SWE)
Mansour Bahrami (FRA)
Mark Philippoussis (Vic)
Mark Woodforde (SA)
Mats Wilander (SWE)
Michael Chang (USA)
Pat Cash (Vic)
Thomas Enqvist (SWE)
Thomas Johansson (SWE)
Todd Woodbridge (NSW)
Wayne Arthurs (Vic)
Wayne Ferreira (RSA)
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS)

 

Women
Kim Clijsters (BEL)
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (ESP)
Lindsay Davenport (USA)
Marion Bartoli (FRA)
Martina Navratilova (USA)
Barbara Schett (AUT)
Iva Majoli (CRO)
Nicole Bradtke (Vic)
Rennae Stubbs (NSW)

 

Macca’s Legends field at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp
Goran Ivanisevic (CRO)
Pat Cash (Vic)

Macca’s Legends field at the Apia International Sydney
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (ESP)
Henri Leconte (FRA)
Mark Philippoussis (Vic)
Martina Navratilova (USA)

Copyright © 2016. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.