Del Mar Development Champions Cup
March 18-22, 2009
Palmilla Tennis Club

Right on the heels of its successful, inaugural debut in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the Outback Champions Series continued its international expansion with another international debut, in Los Cabos, Mexico for the Del Mar Development Champions Cup. In this scenic addition to the 2009 tour, Patrick Rafter made his Outback Champions Series debut, powering his way to the finals before dropping the Championship match to one of the greatest players of all time.

This event format was a single-elimination tournament which heightened the intensity of the matches. Preceding the actual tournament, the Palmilla Tennis Club held a special Mexico Day with two exhibition matches featuring Mexican tennis champions. In the first exhibition match, Luis Herrera took on Leonardo Lavalle, and while Lavalle had a late surge, Herrera was able to emerge victorious 6-2, 7-6(3). Following that match the two opponents teamed up to take on Cordova/Lozano in an 8-game pro-set and downed their countrymen, 8-6.

On Thursday, the official tournament matches kicked off as Mats Wilander defeated Lavalle 6-3, 6-2 and Rafter defeated Herrera 6-1, 6-4 in their respective quarterfinal matches. As the tournament advanced into the semifinal round, the crowds were also treated to Men’s Doubles action preceding each of the semifinal matches. On Friday, the doubles team of Lavalle and Lozano defeated Wilander and Herrera 6-2, 7-6(5). On Saturday, Jim Courier teamed up with Rafter, to defeat Lavalle and Lozano 3-6, 6-4, 10-4.

In the semifinal matches Australian Patrick Rafter defeated the American Jim Courier, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the finals in his OCS debut. In the other semifinal match, American Pete Sampras defeat Swedish superstar Mats Wilander 6-4, 6-0, to advance to his fifth Outback Champions Series Championship Match. Wilander showed his continued love for the sport by saying after his loss, “It was really, really great to play (Sampras) again. Whether good or bad it is always fun.”

In the final day of the tournament, Sunday’s finale began with the third place match pitting Courier against Wilander, with Courier coming out on top 6-4, 6-4. Said Courier after the match, “Tennis above all else should be fun. I think this tournament here in Cabo was a great success. The crowd is wonderful. The weather is incredible and really everyone is so happy and friendly.”

In the much anticipated match-up of Patrick Rafter and Pete Sampras, the championship match did not disappoint. The rivals from their ATP days excited the crowd during the big serving match, as Sampras proceeded to claim his second title of 2009 and his fifth title overall, 7-6(6), 6-4. With this victory Sampras was able to reclaim the number one ranking from John McEnroe.

Said Sampras, “Pat is a tough competitor- he always has been.” Rafter, the newest member of the OCS, agreed, “It was definitely a tough match. Your body isn’t used to playing like this.” Having faced each other 16 times on the ATP, this was the first meeting between the two since the 2001 US Open.

InsideOut would like to send a huge thank you to the supporters of the tournament in Cabo and the fans around the world who have made the 2009 tournament a huge success. With tournaments still to come in the Cayman Islands, Newport, Charlotte and Arizona, a lot more fun is to be had. Check out Champions Series Tennis for dates, venues, and ticket information!

 

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