CHINA OPEN

[sirius]

sorry. i know i'm jumping the gun by 4 months here, but i found this article on the atp website so i thought i'd share it. and SURPRISE SURPRISE! i think i have CCTV on cable! woohoo!!!! must thank my parents for insisting on getting that channel....hahaha.... *rubs hands in glee* so...here's the article
_______________________

CHINA OPEN
Beijing, China
May 11, 2004
China Open Signs Landmark Deal

The China Open today announced a landmark agreement with national network China Central Television (CCTV) that will result in the biggest domestic television broadcast of any tennis tournament in the world.

They also announced that in addition to previously confirmed stars, former US Open champion, Marat Safin, former French Open winner, Carlos Moya and Thai sensation, Paradorn Srichaphan, additional top players for the September 10-26 event at the new Beijing Tennis Centre will include reigning French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero and 2002 Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian.

Hailing the deal with CCTV5, China’s nationwide sports channel, tournament director Lincoln Venancio said, “CCTV is making a long-term commitment to the China Open. CCTV will represent to the China Open what the BBC represents to Wimbledon and what CBS represents to the US Open. With approximately seven hours of live broadcasts per day, plus additional highlights programmes, September will truly be ‘Tennis Month’ in China.”<br>
“This momentous agreement is a giant step forward in the China Open’s drive to become one of the world’s top tennis tournaments and it will ensure that the great tennis being played at the China Open will be broadcast to the entire Chinese population. Furthermore, the action shown on CCTV will also be beamed to dozens of other countries around the world, ensuring success and exposure for the China Open on a global scale.”<br>
Ma Guoli, president of CCTV Sports, welcomed the agreement, saying “Today is a historic day for tennis in China. CCTV is delighted to become the Official Host Broadcaster of the China Open. We will take great pride in delivering the world-class tennis that will be played to the people of China. This historic broadcast – totally over 150 hours – will be greater in scale than the domestic TV coverage of any other tennis event in the world. CCTV reaches over one billion people while CCTV5 reaches over 700 million people. Without question, we are looking at reach the largest domestic audience for any tennis event in history.”<br>
“In order to continue to improve the broadcast standard of sport in China, CCTV will also host a sports broadcasting conference around the staging of the China Open which will provide an excellent opportunity to television companies from our country and the region to familiarize themselves with the latest developments in sports broadcasting.”<br>
The China Open, part of the ATP, will have a unique format featuring competitions for men, women, seniors and juniors.

Spanish world number four Ferrero said he was looking forward to the tournament, which will be played on “medium pace” hard courts. “I’m very excited about coming to play at the China Open,” he said. “I’m sure it will become a very significant tournament and I would like very much to be the first person in history to win it.”<br>
“I’m very comfortable on medium pace hard courts and reached the US Open final last year and the Australian Open semi-finals this year. I’m sure the atmosphere will be electrifying and I look forward to playing my best tennis for the people of China.”<br>
Ferrero will be joined in the draw by Argentina’s Nalbandian, the current world number six, plus former Australian Open finalist and world number five Rainer Schuettler of Germany, American Davis Cup stars Taylor Dent and Jan-Michael Gambill, all-action Moroccan tour veteran, Younes El Aynaoui and rising Spanish star Rafael Nadal.

Tournament director Venancio added, “The clear objectives of the China Open are: to develop it into one of the world’s top five tennis tournaments; to make it Asia’s premier annual sports event; and to ensure it is a great asset to China’s preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games. With the backing of China’s Ministry of Sports and the Beijing Municipal Government, with a star-studded line-up of players, and with a state-of-the-art tennis facility, we are extremely confident about achieving these goals.”<br>
As managing director of ATP International, Mr. Brad Drewett said, "As the governing body for men's professional tennis worldwide, we at the ATP are very pleased that China's national broadcaster CCTV is joining the China Open as Official Host Broadcaster. China is a very fast growing market for our sport and the China Open will be a very important tournament. We fully support CCTV's efforts in making the images of the China Open accessible to the entire Chinese nation. We are also very pleased to deliver great ATP stars such as Marat Safin, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Paradorn Srichaphan, Rainer Schuettler, Taylor Dent, Jan-Michael Gambill ,David Nalbandian, Rafael Nadal, Younes El Aynaoui and Carlos Moya to the China Open."

The China Open will remain in the 2008 Olympic Capital for a minimum of 10 years (2004-2013) under the leadership of its tournament chairmen, National Minister of Sport Yuan Weimin and Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan.

* The China Open is organised by China's National Ministry of Sport and Beijing Municipal Government.

[ivy]

I know! I was so excited when I went on to the ATP website and saw this! My mom has relatives in Beijing or we could just stay at a hotel!! YAY!!!

-Ive

[sirius]

Two Up Front
Tennis: Safin the showman heads for Beijing

Beijing, China: August 27, 2004

He’s wild, wacky and wonderfully talented – Marat Safin is guaranteed to keep everyone entertained when he plays in next month’s China Open in Beijing.

On the court, the man from Moscow is an explosive mix of raw power, brilliant shot-making and racquet-breaking tantrums. Off it, he is witty, unpredictable and often outrageous – small wonder that tennis journalists have voted him the most quotable player on tour.

Mad-cap Marat had fans laughing and cheering at this year’s French Open when he dropped his shorts and bent over to celebrate winning a rally against Felix Mantilla – only for the umpire to dock him a point. “I felt it was a great point for me,” Safin told amused reporters afterwards. “I felt like pulling my pants down – what’s bad about it? Nobody complained. Everybody was OK. It wasn't really bad.”<br>
At Wimbledon, the Russian smashed his racquet, raged at the umpire and yelled at himself during a first-round loss to compatriot Dmitry Tursunov – and all this while one of his biggest fans, former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, watched from the VIP box.

A Safin post-match press conference can sometimes be more entertaining than the tennis itself. After losing to Nicolas Kiefer in the first round of the Tennis Masters Toronto in July this year, Safin was asked if he would consider changing his unconventional approach to the game.

“You know the story of the hippo?” he responded. “The hippo comes to the monkey and says, ‘Listen, I'm not a hippo.’ So, he paints himself like a zebra, but the monkey says, ‘Look at you, you're painted like a zebra but you’re still a hippo.’ So then the hippo says, ‘I want to be a little parrot,’ and he paints himself like a parrot. He goes back to see the monkey who tells him, ‘Sorry, you’re still a hippo.’<br>
“So in the end, you know, the hippo goes back to the monkey and says, ‘I’m happy to be a hippo. This is who I am.’ So, I have to be who I am and he's happy being a hippo!" The story had journalists in stitches.

After one frustrating loss to Max Mirnyi, a reporter asked Safin why he had lost his temper. “"Do you expect me to smile like an idiot on court?” he countered. “Nobody likes to lose – and I can't be relaxed when I see on the scoreboard that I'm losing and making stupid mistakes. That's just the way I am.”<br>
And that’s just how the fans like him. On form, 24-year-old Safin is one of the most talented and exciting players in the world. A physically imposing presence at 6-feet-4, he can serve and volley with the best while still possessing one of the most overwhelming baseline games in the sport.

He demolished Pete Sampras to win the US Open in 2000 and has twice been Australian Open runner-up. He has captured 11 ATP Tour titles so far in an injury-hampered career.

He might get frustrated from time to time, but Safin loves his sport. “Of course I enjoy it – I have been playing it since I was six,” he once said. “It’s better than cleaning the streets of Moscow! When I talk to myself on court, I say, ‘I love you, you're a good guy, but don't miss next time, OK?’”

He will be looking to add to his trophy collection when the inaugural China Open is held from September 10-26. “The launch of the China Open is great news for professional tennis,” he told reporters. “We all know that Asia is the fastest growing market for our sport and I am very much looking forward to playing in Beijing.”<br>
Safin has already visited the Chinese capital, attending last November’s official launch press conference with Asian number one Paradorn Srichaphan. The players toured Beijing’s famous sights, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and visited a traditional Chinese opera.

China Open tournament director Lincoln Venancio is delighted to have Safin in the men’s line-up. “Marat is one of tennis’ great entertainers,” he says. “He’s phenomenally talented, he’s explosive, he’s unpredictable. Marat is going to be a huge hit with the Chinese fans.”<br>
And, it is safe to say, a huge hit with the Chinese press. Mainland reporters can expect such gems as, “My friend, there is nothing so sexy as a woman who is angry – perhaps when she is even throwing things,” or, “Regaining your form is like trying to find love. If you look too hard, you don’t find it. When you let it happen naturally, it comes.”<br>
Yet, win or lose, Safin can still smile at himself and make a joke out of his wild-man reputation. After a journalist congratulated him on getting through his opening match of 2002 – against Michael Chang – without breaking his racquet, he responded: “It’s my first day on the job – give me some time!”<br>

[Damita]

sirius said:

‘I’m happy to be a hippo. This is who I am.’ So, I have to be who I am and he's happy being a hippo!" The story had journalists in stitches.

no shit !!!!!!!!!! ;D
thanks for the article Jiat. It's like a compilation of quotes. what are they expecting the most from him in Beijing?good tennis?..... or good press conferences? ;D

[sirius]

bunch of photos on the china open site from marat's beijing trip last year.

[Shannon]

Thanks, Jiat! Awww he looks so cute with the statues and dragons hehe. And erm off topic but what is with your tomato picture. Why isn't it a HIPPO???

[tall_one]

Shannon said:

Thanks, Jiat! Awww he looks so cute with the statues and dragons hehe. And erm off topic but what is with your tomato picture. Why isn't it a HIPPO???

Jiat, has anyone thought that was a pumpkin besides you?

[Carolineonline]

Ahh.. feels good to read such articles man!!! Yeah! Every good part of him summed up in one fine enjoyable article! We should have more journalists like this one! ;D I mean, when you read this as a non-Marat fan.. you're almost gonna feel sorry for yourself that you're still cheering for this other guy instead of the one and only true artist in every way..Marat Safin! ;D good good good...

tall_one said:

Jiat, has anyone thought that was a pumpkin besides you?

pumpkin

[sirius]

Carolineonline said:

Ahh.. feels good to read such articles man!!! Yeah! Every good part of him summed up in one fine enjoyable article! We should have more journalists like this one! ;D I mean, when you read this as a non-Marat fan.. you're almost gonna feel sorry for yourself that you're still cheering for this other guy instead of the one and only true artist in every way..Marat Safin! ;D good good good...


pumpkin

great words mirime, about maratik....

and nicki...HAH! see! she knows it's NOT A PUMPKIN!

and shannon knows it's not a pumpkin too! HAH! except that shannonwho'swacko thinks the hippo's a rhino...HOW she managed that i've absolutely NO IDEA!

[Carolineonline]

sirius said:

great words mirime, about maratik....

;D
(but not good enough for a thread, right?! )

sirius said:

and nicki...HAH! see! she knows it's NOT A PUMPKIN!

yeah..well.. but what does it stand for?! Cuz I mean.. hippo i can follow.. but a non-pumkin-kinda-tomatoe-something?! I'm out!!!

sirius said:

and shannon knows it's not a pumpkin too! HAH! except that shannonwho'swacko thinks the hippo's a rhino...HOW she managed that i've absolutely NO IDEA!

erhm.. rhino's have a waddoyacallit on their nose... kinda big difference between this and that...

oohw... wait a minute... china open!! I'll hush..

[Elisabeth]

Well , thank you Sirius for the article!They are very nice!I like the 2sd article! ;D
He totaly describes Marat... ;D
And thank you too for the pictures!They are great!I didn't seen this photos before...
I wonder where do you can find all this "new" pictures......?I search.....but nothing....I'm unlucky....

[tall_one]

sirius said:

.. except that shannonwho'swacko thinks the hippo's a rhino...HOW she managed that i've absolutely NO IDEA!

a rhino? errrr yeahhhhh I think Shannon and I need to go visit the Blank Park Zoo tomorrow

[sirius]

tall_one said:

a rhino? errrr yeahhhhh I think Shannon and I need to go visit the Blank Park Zoo tomorrow

yeah...go see if they have hippos and rhinos. while u're at it, visit the market too...and try to tell the difference b/w tomatoes and pumpkins. lol


CHINA OPEN! dinara will be there too...i'm hoping they'll break the curse this time...

[Shannon]

LMFAO give me a break you guys, I was very tired when I posted that. PLUS that tomato looked so out of place that I overlooked the rhino...errr hippo. You have weird toys Jiat.

Btw when did pumpkins become red?

[sirius]

Shannon said:

Btw when did pumpkins become red?

ezackly...please tell ms giraffe that pumpkins aren't red. lol. we're soooooo off topic i better go monkey ard and find sth on the china open site.