Cut-off confirms strongest ever draw for The Red Letter
Days Open
Today (Tuesday 23rd May) organisers have confirmed that The
Red Letter Days Open has achieved its highest ever main draw
player cut-off point in the 12 year history of the Nottingham
grass court tournament (19th-24th June).
Of the 23 player’s accepted directly into the main
draw and based on their Indesit ATP rankings of 8th May 2006,
the highest ranked player is Thomas Johansson (Sweden) at
world no.14. In 2005, Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) also headed
entries with a world no.14 ranking. However, in 2006, the
lowest ranked player to be accepted prior to the early May
deadline is world no.63, Agustin Calleri (Argentina). This
further improves on the previous low of no.65, recorded in
2005 by Kevin Kim (USA).
Though the complete list of 32 main draw players scheduled
to contest the 2006 Red Letter Days Open title will be complemented
by four qualifiers (from matches played 17th and 18th June),
two special exempts and three wild cards, the list released
today (see below) affirms that Nottingham is set to host its
strongest ever singles draw.
Based on 8th May rankings, five of the 23 players (including
Hrbaty, Andreev and Monfils) are ranked within the world top
30 and 15 within the world’s top 50 (17 in the top 50
if based on rankings of Monday, 22nd May). In addition to
Johansson (2001 champion and current world no.18), three other
entered players have also lifted the coveted Nottingham title;
Richard Gasquet (2005); Paradorn Srichaphan (2004) and Greg
Rusedski (2003 and 1997). Rusedski, the British No.1 and current
world no.40 is one of only two players (with Jonas Bjorkman,
Sweden) to have twice won the Nottingham title.
However, Rusedski is not the only player who will come to
Nottingham in promising form. Olivier Rochus (currently world
no.30) from Belgian and a 2005 Nottingham semi-finalist (l/Mirnyi)
recently lifted the 2nd ATP title of his career when he won
in Munich. This year, his countryman, Xavier Malisse (currently
world no. 37) has reached two ATP finals; Adelaide and Delray
Beach whilst (current world no.26) Igor Andreev (Russia) reached
an ATP final in Sydney. In 2006, 28 year-old Daniele Bracciali
(Italy) has also picked up the first ATP title of his career
after a win in Casablanca.
Nottingham has also attracted a clutch of young world beaters.
Whilst the young Frenchman, Richard Gasquet (current world
no.43) will be hoping to repeat his 2005 Nottingham triumph,
his 19 year-old countryman, Gael Monfils (world no.28) continues
to climb the rankings after reaching a final in Doha (l/Federer)
and the semi-finals in Rome (l/Nadal). 20 year-old Nicolas
Almagro is another young-gun in promising form. The world
no.42 recently won his first ATP title in Valencia and reached
the semi-finals in Barcelona (l/Nadal).
Consequently, it’s hardly surprising that Patrick Hughesman,
tournament director expressed his delight at the strength
of the main draw player cut-off. “Every tennis fan coming
to The Red Letter Days Open can look forward to a truly world-class
main singles draw. Whilst it’s fantastic to have achieved
the highest ever cut-off point in the tournament’s history,
it’s equally great news that The Red Letter Days Open
will welcome back four former singles champions including
Greg Rusedski as the current British No.1 and all four 2005
semi-finalists (Mirnyi, Johansson, Gasquet and Rochus).”
Hughesman added: “With just four weeks to go until the
start of The Red Letter Days Open, almost 5500 tickets have
now been sold. The stage is set for thrilling world class
tennis in Nottingham this June.”
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