Hrbaty aims to stamp his authority in Nottingham
Dominic Hrbaty (er-BAH-tee) has become the latest big hitting
tennis star confirmed to contest the Red Letter Days Open
at The City of Nottingham Tennis Centre from 19 th-24th June.
Ranked No.25 in the Indesit ATP entry rankings, Hrbaty becomes
the second highest ranked singles player entered for The Red
Letter Days Open. Commanding a ranking of world no.14, 2001
Nottingham singles champion, Thomas Johansson, tops the current
list of world-class players eagerly awaited by tennis fans
throughout the East Midlands.
As the Slovakian No.1 heads for Nottingham in the hope of
adding further to his haul of six ATP singles titles, Hrbaty
has already shown signs of good form in 2006. Earlier this
season, the right-handed, Monte Carlo based player reached
the semi-finals of Adelaide (l/Florent Serra) and only narrowly
lost to world No.6, Nikolay Davydenko ( Russia ) in the 4th
round of the 2006 Australian Open.
Commenting on Hrbaty's decision to return to Nottingham for
only the second time in his career, Patrick Hughesman, tournament
director of The Red Letter Days Open, said: "At No.25
in the current Indesit ATP entry rankings, Dominik Hrbaty
is yet another top drawer player preparing to thrill the crowds
at The Red Letter Days Open. I am sure Hrbaty will arrive
in Nottingham keen to live up to his reputation as the Dominator
and hoping to add further to his haul of six ATP singles titles."
Hrbaty who was eliminated (4-6, 4-6) by Kenneth Carlsen in
the 2nd round and in his first appearance at Nottingham last
year, joins an impressive list of players signed in for The
Red Letter Days Open including 19 year-old young gun Gael
Monfils (France / world no.29), a semi-finalist in Rome last
week (l/Nadal). With the names of the 23 players accepted
directly into the main draw expected to be announced next
week, Hrbaty and Monfils already know they will face a tough
challenge from four previous Nottingham singles champions;
Richard Gasquet (2005 / France), Paradorn Srichaphan (2004
/ Thailand), Greg Rusedski (2003, 1997 / GBR) and Thomas Johansson
(2001 / Sweden).
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