Former Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek and former British number one Greg Rusedski both attended the Opening Day of the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament 2012 earlier today.
Speaking before he was due to start play, Richard Krajicek said “This is my first time in Liverpool, and I’ve been really impressed with everything. Well, except the weather! It’s great to see young, future stars playing at the same event as the older generation like me and Greg.”
Greg Rusedski, former British Number 1 and ATP World Number 4 added “It’s always great to come to Calderstones Park, as there’s nothing else like it in the north west. Every year they attract some great names so it’s an honour to be asked to come back. The tournament has a fantastic reputation for spotting future talent, and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing some future stars of the sport.”
South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, who will be headlining this year’s ATP men’s line up, also made an appearance during opening day. As one of a limited number of grass court events, he spoke about its importance as a preparation for Wimbledon and the Olympics. “With an extended grass season this year, it’s crucial to get accustomed to the surface as quickly as possible. This tournament is one of the few chances to play on grass prior to Wimbledon, so will allow me to get into a rhythm for the rest of the summer. This is my first time in Liverpool and I’ve been really impressed with the enthusiasm and excitement around the place, now I just want to get out onto the court.” The Liverpool International Tennis Tournament continues until Sunday.
