Local

It’s Cayman versus the Legends

11 November 2011

The KPMG Legends tournament will be returning to The Courts at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman on Thursday 17 November.

This year the very popular event will boast more innovations and bigger names than ever before, with mixed doubles and singles events taking place, featuring the likes of tennis legends Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Mark Philippoussis and Wayne Ferreira, to name but a few.

Yet the biggest news this year, at least as far as the on court action is concerned, is that local players will have the opportunity to take to the court and take on the legends on the red clay of the Ritz-Carlton.

The organisers provided the opportunity for three local teaching pros to take part in the mixed doubles event, as well as two local amateurs. Cayman will even have a representative in the men’s singles competition, where top local youngster Panav Jha, will take on Olympic Games silver medallist Wayne Ferreira.

Jha currently plays for the University of Kentucky and recent results include winning gold for Cayman in the men’s singles and team event at the 2011 Natwest Island Games.

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Cayman Pros

Among the Cayman teaching pros, Thomas Neuert of the Ritz-Carlton and David Berry of the Cayman Islands Tennis Association received wild cards to take part in the event, leaving one pro slot to play for.

Eight professional tennis coaches from the Cayman Islands played for the final pro wildcard spot. Pros from the Tennis Club, the Ritz-Carlton, private pros and retired pros all came out to put on a great doubles spectacle for an appreciative Tennis Club audience.

The Tennis Club pairing of Adam Bayley and Dale Avery won through comfortable, showing their great strength as a team. They ended up playing against each other to decide who went through to the KPMG Legends main draw, with Adam winning in a tie break. Adam is originally from South Africa. He came to Cayman about six years ago for a year and then went to the States to Teach Tennis then came to the Club about four years ago. He coaches adults and juniors for the tennis club.

Cayman Amateurs

Among the Cayman amateurs the competition was no less intense as the doubles pairings competed for the honour of joining the legends on court during the tournament.

After a tough competition, the doubles pair of Mike Ryan of the Ritz-Carlton and event organiser Dan Kneipp finished in third spot, just behind Mike Fullerton and Alex Leonard in second. However, it was Richard Harrison and Mike Bonikowski who took the win and with it claimed the opportunity to play in the doubles event in front of the crowds at the Ritz-Carlton during the KPMG Legends tournament.

Cayman Juniors

Some of the top up and coming tennis stars in Cayman also competed for a chance to play the opening game on each of the three evenings of the Legends tournament as part of the Junior Legends competition.

The final of each of the three age groups will serve as the opening game of the evening before the legends take to the court and will showcase the tennis talent in Cayman.

On Thursday evening, James Priaulx will take on Callum Theaker in the under 11 final, while Friday evening will see Daniel Reid take on Simon Butler for the under 14 title. On finals night on Saturday 19 November, Alex Leonard will clash with William Hayward as they battle for the under 18 title.

Ticket sales

There are still limited tickets available for those eager to attend one of the premier sporting events on the Cayman Islands sporting calendar. Although tickets to the finals have already sold out, there are still some limited VIP packages, semi-finals, quarter-finals and Whites Party tickets available for purchase.

Tickets are available by clicking here.

Sponsors

The KPMG Legends Tennis tournament is made possible by sponsors KPMG, The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Tennis Federation of the Cayman Islands, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Taittinger Champagne, Cayman Financial Review, Cayman Airways, Balaclava Jewellers, Tonic Tennis by Martina Hingis, Maples, Butterfield Banks and The Security Centre.

Schedule

THURSDAY – CAYMAN WILDCARD NIGHT

1pm (Free viewing for Cayman schools)

Chanda Rubin & Murphy Jensen versus Adam Bayley & Richard Harrison

6pm: KPMG Junior Legends Under 11s James Priaulx versus Callum Theaker

Jennifer Capriati & Stephen Huss versus Thomas Neuert & Racquel Kops-Jones

Steven Capriati & Milagros Sequera versus Ashley Fisher & Ashley Harkleroad

Martina Hingis & Mark Philippoussis versus David Berry & Mike Bonikowski

FRIDAY – SEMI FINALS

1pm: (Free viewing for Cayman schools) Jimmy Arias versus Thomas Blake

6pm: KPMG Junior Legends Under 14s Daniel Reid versus Simon Butler

Doubles Semi Final 1