Tennis Cup attracts stars

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Friday, 20 November 2009 15:00 Ek Chamroeun and Dan Riley

The 14th Tep Khunnah Memorial Cup begins today with its best-ever field

THE 14th annual Tep Khunnah Memorial Cup tennis tournament gets under way today at the Cambodian Country Club (CCC). The weeklong event organised by the Tennis Federation of Cambodia (TFC) culminates in grand finals on November 28.

According to a press release Thursday from the TFC, this year’s competition “boasts the strongest international competitors to ever play on Cambodian soil”.

The federation hope to showcase the top players in a special Super Singles competition featuring five internationals and three Cambodians players, namely Tan Nysan, Bun Kenny and Orn Sambath. The local lads will face the top three players in Vietnam; Bui Tri Nguyen, Hoang Than Trung and Do Minh Quan, as well as US player Nathan Thompson – currently ranked 350 on the ATP – and Timo Sivapruska from Thailand.

The Super Singles format, which starts Wednesday, is a two group round robin tournament, with the winner of each pool playing in the final at 4pm next Saturday. The TFC are keen to encourage spectators, who can view the highest level of tennis ever played in Cambodia free of charge at the CCC.

TFC General Secretary Tep Rithivit, for whose father the event commemorates, voiced his confidence in the Cambodian contingent, adding that the competition is the best way for the players to prepare for the upcoming SEA Games in Laos next month. “We are sure that our players will make a surprise at the SEA Games because they train regularly and have a good relationship with the coach,” he said during a press conference Thursday.

The TFC executive noted that the federation sent three players to the previous SEA Games in Thailand, but, due to the success of Tan Nysan obtaining a bronze medal, they had been allowed to send six delegates to this year’s tournament.

Aside from the main spectacle of the Super Singles, there are five other categories that around 70 tennis players will compete over: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, junior singles (under 18), and veteran’s singles (over 45).