2011 SAP Open announces wild card selections

Feb. 3, 2011TENNIS PAGE

SAN JOSEThe SAP Open announced today its wild card selections for the 2011 tournament to be played February 7-13 at HP Pavilion at San Jose. Playing in the Singles Main Draw will be James Blake (USA), Milos Raonic (CAN) and Bradley Klahn (USA). Theses wild card selections join an already impressive field of players which includes 2010 SAP Open champion Fernando Verdasco (ESP), top-15 talent Gael Monfils (FRA), 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG), former SAP Open champion Lleyton Hewitt (AUS), American Sam Querrey and top-Japanese player Kei Nishikori and many more.In the Doubles Main Draw Americans Travis Rettenmaier (USA) and Robert Kendrick (USA) have accepted one wild card while Bradley Klahn (USA) and Ryan Thacher (USA) have accepted the second wild card.
RELATED: Mardy Fish withdraws from San Jose's SAP Open
James Blake returns to the 2011 SAP Open for the first time since 2009 when he reached the tournament semifinals. In his career, Blake, 31, has been ranked as high as 4 in the world and has earned more than 7 million in prize money since turning pro in 1999. He has captured 10 ATP singles titles and five doubles titles in his career including the 2004 SAP Open doubles title with partner Mardy Fish. In Davis Cup play, Blake owns a 21-12 record. He was named 2005 ATP World Tour Comeback Player of Year and was featured in People Magazines 2006-2007 Sexiest Man Alive issue. This native of Yonkers, New York who now resides in Tampa, Florida will be playing the SAP Open for the tenth time in 12 years. Coming to the SAP Open for the first time in his career is 20-year old Milos Raonic (CAN). Raonic captivated the tennis world just last month as he advanced through three rounds of qualifying to earn a spot in the main draw at the Australian Open where he advanced through to the round of 16. Along the way, Raonic defeated two top-25 players in Michael Llodra and Mikhail Youzhny before losing to world 7 David Ferrer in four sets. A native of Podgorica, Montenegro, Raonic now resides in Toronto, Canada.Also making his debut at the 2011 SAP Open is 20-year old Bradley Klahn of Poway, Calif. Klahn, a student-athlete at Stanford University, reached the Round of 16 at the Junior Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2008. He won the NCAA Singles Championship as a sophomore, and reached the doubles semifinals with partner Ryan Thacher. In 2009, Klahn won the Pac-10 singles and doubles championship as a freshman. He is the two-time defending Sherwood Collegiate Cup Champion and has also represented the USA in Junior Davis Cup play in 2006. The 2011 SAP Open schedule of play for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night has been announced. The Pete Sampras vs. Gael Monfils charity exhibition singles match will be played at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 7 followed by a second main draw match to be announced. On Tuesday, February 8, Sam Querrey will play his first-round singles match at 7 p.m. followed by Juan Martin del Potros first-round singles match. On Wednesday, February 9, defending champion Fernando Verdasco will play his first-round singles match at 7 p.m. followed by Gael Monfils first-round match. Opponents for each of the featured tournament matches will be determined at the SAP Open draw event to be held Friday, February 4 at 12 noon at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose.Courtesy HP Pavilion media services