TheSportsCampus

The star-studded field at the inaugural Chengdu Open did not disappoint on the first day of play at the ATP Champions Tour event. Pitting legend against legend, the high quality of match play demonstrated why the eight players hold 25 Grand Slam singles championships.

Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Spaniard Sergi Bruguera opened round robin play in spectacular fashion, with Kafelnikov coming out on top 7-6(5), 6-2.

Kafelnikov, a former ATP World Tour World No. 1 who won two singles Grand Slams, four doubles Grand Slams and an Olympic Gold medal while playing on the ATP World Tour, debuted on the ATP Champions Tour in 2008 in less than peak form. Unable to keep up with his extremely fit compet itors, Kafelnikov resolved to return to the Tour in better shape.

His first match in Chengdu proved to be a good test, as he ran into one of the best conditioned players on tour, two-time Roland Garros champion and Olympic silver medallist, Bruguera. Despite getting broken in his first service game, and falling down 0-3, Kafelnikov stayed with Bruguera and broke back as the Spaniard served for the first set 5-3. The players served their way to a tiebreaker, which Kafelnikov won 7-5. Kafelnikov showed no sign of fatigue as he polished off the second set 6-3.

"For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was in control of what I was doing on the court," Kafelnikov said in regards to his fitness. "That's a huge sign of improvement to me. I've been working quite hard in the past couple of months. It's a nice feeling, to be able to enjoy how I used to play before."

In the second match of the day, fan favorite Goran Ivanisevic from Croatia, three-time Wimbledon finalist, 2001 Wimbledon champion and Olympic bronze singles and doubles medallist, took on Sweden's 11-time Grand Slam champion, Bjorn Borg.

Ivanisevic, whose ranking peaked in the ‘90s dominated the first set against Borg, who dominated tennis in the ‘70s. The generational gap was apparent as Ivanisevic took the first set 6-2. Both players served well in the second set, a barrage of aces carrying them to a tiebreaker.

Ivanisevic played a flawless breaker, winning 7-0 to close out the match 6-2, 7-6(0). "Bjorn Borg is a legend, he is the reason why I started to play tennis. To play him is a big honor. Even though this time I know I was much better, I was still a little nervous, because it's Borg, I watched [all] his matches, I had his pictures on my wall."

Did Ivanisevic consider taking it easy on his idol? "I try to be nice but I still want to win. If you let him in too much, then he starts to play well...in a tiebreak you never know. If he wins the tiebreak, then the third set is a tiebreak...so it's better to be sure [than nice]."

Third on court, Chinese American Michael Chang and Swede Thomas Enqvist staged a rematch of their battle at the Trophee Jean-Luc Lagardere finals. In the Paris final, Enqvist defeated Chang 6-4, 7-6(5). Enqvist again defeated Chang, this time 6-3, 6-2, extending his winning streak. Enqvist, the current No. 1 on the South African Airways Rankings, has yet to lose a match on the ATP Champions Tour, winning nine of the nine matches he has played so far.

Enqvist and Chang treated the crowd to the longest rallies of the day as they worked one another from side to side, mixing heavy topspin with slice, building points before going for winners. Much like in their last meeting, Enqvist only needed one break to take the first set, breaking Chang in the sixth game. He pressured Chang on serve from that point on, breaking Chang in his first and third service games in the second set.

"Today was a tough match for me," said Chang. "I thought Thomas would at least be a little jetlagged today but he didn't show very much of that at all. I think maybe in the warm up he missed a few balls. He played very very well today. Thomas just hit some great shots. There wasn't a whole lot that I could do. I don't think I played bad at all, Thomas was just playing too well today."

Chang, as a Chinese American, has been embraced by the fans and the media as a hometown hero. Enqvist wasn't bothered by the clearly partisan support. "It was great. It's always great to play in a nice atmosphere," said Enqvist. "I've never played him in Asia before, [although] I saw him play both in Hong Kong and in Tokyo, Japan -- and the crowd is getting very excited, which is nice to see -- but Michael is popular anywhere he goes, but maybe extremely popular here."

The second day features Borg vs. Cash, Kafelnikov vs. Enqvist, McEnroe vs. Ivanisevic, and Chang vs. Bruguera.

Thursday Scores:

Y Kafelnikov (RUS) d S Bruguera (ESP) 7-6(5) 6-2
G Ivanisevic (CRO) d B Borg (SWE) 6-2 7-6(0)
T Enqvist (SWE) d M Chang (USA) 6-3 6-2
J McEnroe (USA) d P Cash (AUS) 6-4 7-6(4)