DELRAY BEACH — John McEnroe will join fellow tennis icons next February at the 2010 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships (ITC) as the ATP Champions Tour makes its debut in the United States.

The 18-year-old ATP tournament will now showcase the games greatest talents across multiple eras when it simultaneously hosts the ATP Champions Tour and the ATP World Tour, creating a 9-day extravaganza from February 20 - 28 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. The event will begin with the 8-player, 4-day ATP Champions Tour event and culminate with the ATP World Tour event that has been played in Delray Beach for the past 12 years.

"It's great for the ATP Champions Tour to have a tournament in the United States and we are delighted to be working with the organisers of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships,” said ATP Champions Tour CEO Jan Felgate.  “As soon as our players heard about the event they were queuing up to take part, and we believe it will be a big success.

Joining McEnroe for the ATP Champions Tour event will be fellow Grand Slam champs Mats Wilander and Pat Cash while 2009 Delray Beach ITC singles champion Mardy Fish and doubles champions Bob & Mike Bryan will all be returning to defend their titles in the 2010 ATP World Tour event.

The ATP Champions Tour currently includes eight round robin events played throughout Europe, South America and Asia, featuring ATP players who fit one of the following criteria: formerly ranked No. 1 in the world in singles, a Grand Slam singles champion or finalist, or a singles player on a winning Davis Cup team. Players must also be retired from ATP World Tour competition for at least one year. Each event can also invite two wild card entrants of its choice.

“This new combined event is going to be unbelievable,“ said tournament director Mark Baron. “Delray Beach is going to be one of the few ATP cities in the world where fans can see multiple generations of tennis stars sharing the same stage during the same week.”

“The Delray Beach International Tennis Championships has always been a popular stop on the ATP World Tour for both players and fans,” said Mark Young, ATP CEO, Americas. “The tournament has a history of creatively increasing interest in our great sport. It’s therefore not surprising the city will become the first in this country to host both an ATP World Tour event and an ATP Champions Tour event the same week.” 

When the ATP Champions Tour debuted in 1997, McEnroe quickly became its marquee player with a legendary resume no matter the generation. Over a 16-year ATP career, the feisty lefty won 17 Grand Slam titles—seven in singles— and was the world’s top-ranked player between 1981 and 1984.  In 1982, he won an astounding 82 of 85 matches as well as the Wimbledon and US Open titles.

"I work hard to stay in shape off the court so that I can still play well when I get out there,” said McEnroe, who also led the U.S. to five Davis Cup titles during his career. “To be able to play an ATP Champions Tour event in Delray Beach—a tournament in the U.S—is an extra incentive. I'm looking forward to it and I want to win."

Wilander was No. 1 in 1988 on the strength of winning three of the season’s four Grand Slams. He is the only man in tennis history to win two Slams on each of the three tennis surfaces—grass, hard and clay. Cash won Wimbledon in 1987, beating Wilander and Jimmy Connors enroute to the final where he defeated world No. 1 Ivan Lendl.

“The ATP Champions Tour has enjoyed a successful niche internationally and now tennis fans in America have the opportunity to see legends like Mac, Wilander and Cash competing in our intimate venue,” says Baron, who expects to announce additional players for both tournaments soon. “The Champions Tour event increases the star power of the Delray Beach ITC and will further enhance our Fan Experience.”

The No. 23-ranked Fish will be making his seventh ITC appearance and has a 13-5 record here. He reached last year’s US Open quarterfinal and then began 2009 with a 12-5 record, including the Delray Beach title. "I very much look forward to come back to South Florida where I grew up,” said Fish, who is from Vero Beach. “Playing in front of family and friends is always exciting. I look forward to returning next February to defend my title.”

The world No. 1 Bryan Brothers will be playing in their third straight ITC and fifth overall since appearing in the inaugural Delray Beach event in 1999. The 31-year-old twins have won seven Grand Slam doubles titles and recently played in their 90th ATP World Tour level final. Their 54 ATP titles now stand three short of tying Peter Fleming-John McEnroe and Bob Hewitt-Frew McMillan as the No. 2 team in the Open Era.

Ticket packages are available at the box office by calling 561-330-6000 or online at YellowTennisBall.com The packages range in price from $230 to $518 and are structured so that fans can order all 17 sessions (Diamond), sessions 1 – 10 (Ruby), sessions 9-17 (Sapphire) or a package for the ATP World Tour quarterfinals through the finals (Weekender). Sessions 5 – 8 (Monday and Tuesday) include a chance for fans to enjoy both ATP Champions Tour and ATP World Tour matches. Box series packages are also available.

2010 DELRAY BEACH ITC SUMMARY

ATP Champions Tour Event
February 20-23, 2010
Draw: 8 players, round robin format, each player plays a minimum of 3 times; confirmed players to date include John McEnroe, Mats Wilander & Pat Cash

ATP World Tour Event
Qualifying Tournament: February 20-21, 2010
Main Draw: February 22-28, 2010
Singles: 28-player draw, including defending champion Mardy Fish
Doubles: 16-player draw, including defending champion Bryan Brothers