Greg Rusedski will meet Stefan Edberg in a dream final at the Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions CGD after both players came through the round-robin stages undefeated in the Algarve, Portugal.
Rusedski trounced an out-of-sorts Marcelo Rios 6-2, 6-4 as he looks to win his first ATP Champions Tour title, while Edberg overcame Fernando Meligeni 6-3, 6-2.
With the vast majority of the packed crowds in Portugal being British holiday-makers, a final between a British player and a two-time Wimbledon champion is ideal for organisers. Even better was the news that Edberg showed no ill-effects from the thigh strain he sustained the previous day.
Rusedski completed a miserable week for Rios, who has now lost his last six ATP Champions Tour matches. However, the Chilean’s exchange with the on-court post-match interviewer was worth the admission-price on its own. Interviewer: “Is there anything that you can take away from this week here in Portugal?”. Rios: “No.”
It means that Edberg and Rusedski will face each other in a competitive match for only the third time. Their only ATP World Tour encounter came at Wimbledon in 1993. Rusedski lost his serve once in a 7-6(9), 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(5) defeat in the first round. He gained some measure of revenge at The Masters Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall in December last year, beating Edberg 7-6(7) 5-7,10-6 (Champions’ Tie Break).
Despite their lack of meetings over the years, the pair know each other well. Edberg lived in London for many years and they regularly practiced with each other. Rusedski is a big fan of the Swede.
“It’s always nice to see Stefan,” said Rusedski, who will become a father for the second time in October.
“I practiced with him for many years but he’s been living in Sweden the last few years so we haven’t had the chance. He’s a gentleman and a great player and I’m looking forward to playing him in the final.”
The third place play-off will see Meligeni take on Marc-Kevin Goellner, whose opponent Nuno Marques retired injured at 4-6, 4-1.
To be eligible to compete on the ATP Champions Tour, players must be either a former World Number One, a former Grand Slam champion or finalist, or a singles player on a Davis Cup-winning team. Each even can also invite two wild cards of its choice.
| Author: | David Law, ATP Champions Tour |
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