David Ferrer, Stanislas Wawrinka and David Nalbandian to highlight next year’s Copa Claro event

David Ferrer, Stanislas Wawrinka and David Nalbandian to highlight next year’s Copa Claro event

The ATP World Tour will make a comeback to Buenos Aires next year in February for the renamed Copa Claro. The tournament will start from 12^th February and end on the 20^th. David Ferrer, who is currently ranked No.7 in the South African Airways ATP list, finished last year as the runner-up. He will this time challenge local favourites Juan Monaco as well as former world number three David Nalbandian at the courts of the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club along with Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

The 28-year old Ferrer, who made his debut on the ATP tour back in 2000, is recently coming off his appearance at the season finale Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London. The Spaniard after successfully qualifying for the elite eight man field couldn’t even win a single match in the Round-robin stage. He was toppled by the Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer in his opening match in two sets. The final match score was 6-1, 6-4. In his next Round-robin match, the Valencia resident was surpassed by Robin Soderling of Sweden with a score line of 5-7, 5-7. Ferrer was bundled out of the prestigious event after falling to the world No. 4, Andy Murray in his final Round-robin clash in two sets. The match score was 2-6, 2-6.

He finished the season with a win loss mark of 60-24 and will start his 2011 ATP tour campaign by playing at the 2011 Heineken Open, where the right-hander is anticipated to be the number one seed. Ferrer will also be a top eight seed at the year’s opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The director of the tournament, Martin Jaite, while commenting on Ferrer’s participation at the Copa Claro said, “we cannot forget about old faces such as Davis Ferrer, runner-up last year. He had a great season ending among the Top eight in London. I am sure he wants to do well and take the cup on Sunday after being so close last year, when he lost to Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final.”

Wawrinka, who is Roger Federer’s countryman, on the other hand, will be making his debut appearance in the competition. The 25-year old is currently ranked No. 21 in the South African Airways ATP list and is coming with a career mark of 141-115 on the tour.

“Wawrinka is a great player to watch. His tennis is creative and since he is working with Peter Lundgren he has improved tremendously. I hope that the fans will enjoy having him here,” added the director of the tournament on Wednesday.

Local hopes will definitely focus once again on the former world No. 3 David Nalbandian, who last year pulled out of the event in round two as a result of an injury. When asked about his expectations regarding the upcoming event, Nalbandian in one of his recent interviews said that he is really looking forward to play on home soil. This is the only chance they have at home to play an ATP event so he is hoping to enter in good shape and will play his very best.

The complete list of the contenders taking part in the event will be revealed by the Association of Tennis Professionals during the first week of January. The competition will have a double session from Monday till Friday, with the final four round being contested on Saturday whereas the title battle will be played on Sunday.

Local young players will also have an opportunity to play a Pre-Qualifying competition for a place in the Qualifying draw. The qualifying event will take place from December 13^th to 17^th at the Parque Roca tennis complex.