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TOP LEVEL TENNIS ARRIVES IN MACAU AS “2023 MGM MACAU TENNIS MASTERS” KICKS OFF
Coric and Griekspoor record impressive wins to set up a final clash tomorrow
[December 2, 2023, Macau] Top-level professional tennis has finally arrived in Macau after a long time, as the opening matches of the highly anticipated “2023 MGM Macau Tennis Masters” finally got underway here Macau East Asian Games Dome. It was a rousing start to the inaugural edition of this special invitational event, with crowds arriving to witness some of the world’s best players putting on a show.
The event officially commenced at 2pm with a short and sweet mixed doubles exhibition encounter between Team Europe, comprising Daria Kasatkina and Croatia’s Borna Coric, up against a Team China made up of Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu.
Consisting only of a 10-point super tie-breaker, the match was exciting from the get-go as a number of quick reaction shots at the net from Coric helped Team Europe race to a 6-3 lead. Although Team China staged a comeback to the delight of the crowd, with both Zhang and Wang racing forward to kill off loose balls from their opponents and cut the deficit to just one point at 8-7, it was a case of too little, too late as the European duo closed out the match at 10-7.
“I’m feeling great after this win. Borna was playing really well and he helped me a lot. I wasn’t really sure of what I should be doing but Borna went full power so I let him take control,” said a smiling Kasatkina after the match, who is playing her first doubles match since 2012.
Next up, the two men stayed on court to face off in the first of the men’s semifinals. Coric started the match in better form and raced to a four-nil lead before closing out the first set 6-1. Zhang put up a stronger fight at the start of the second set and held pace with his higher ranked opponent until 4-4. However, he failed to capitalise on his opportunities when it came, allowing Coric to break him to take a 5-4 lead and eventually win the match 6-1, 6-4 in 55 minutes.
“I think I played really good tennis in the first set and maybe he wasn’t at his best. In the second set we both raised our level, especially him, and in the end, it was a very close and good match,” said the 27-year-old world No.37.
In the day’s second semifinal, in-from Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor defeated American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-1 in 41 minutes to complete a commanding winning debut in Macau. The 27-year-old hit three aces and put on a clinical display in front of an appreciative crowd against a world No.10 that was not at his best.
“I’m happy with today’s performance. I played a good match, definitely. It’s super nice to play in front of the people here in Macau and I hope everybody comes back tomorrow for the final,” said Griekspoor after the win.
The Dutchman has had a breakout season in 2023, reaching three finals and winning his first two career titles at Pune and ‘s-Hertogenbosch respectively. He faces Coric tomorrow in what will be a warmup for their United Cup clash in early January, where Croatia is set to face Netherlands in Group F.
“Borna played really well today as well, so its going to be an interesting final. I am really looking forward to some good tennis again tomorrow,” added Griekspoor.
Aside from the matches, special on-court activities were carried out after each match to entertain the crowd, with the loser of each singles match ‘punished’ with fun challenges, such as trying to hit a tennis ball through a rolling tyre or attempting a Cantonese tongue twister. Meanwhile, the winner of each match played a point on court with a lucky fan chosen from the audience, giving fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live their tennis dreams.
Tomorrow’s schedule will begin with the women’s singles encounter between Wang and Kasatkina, which is slated to start at 2pm. Fans of Fritz and Zhang will be pleased to learn that the two players will once again return to court tomorrow, as they face off in a third-place playoff match that will be contested after the women’s singles. The singles final between Coric and Griekspoor will close out the day’s matches, and will be followed by the awards presentation ceremony.
A special autograph session with Zhang will also be held at the Macau East Asian Games Dome from 1.30pm onwards.
Co-organised by MGM and IMG, the “2023 MGM Macau Tennis Masters” is honoured to have the support of the Publicity and Culture Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R., the Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government, the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Macau Tennis Association.
The event is further supported by esteemed partners, including FILA as the official outfitter, Bonaqua as the official water sponsor, and official trophy sponsor, Lalique.
Tickets are available online through www.MGM.mo from MOP$320 to MOP$880.
For more information, please visit the official event website at www.MGMMacauTennis.com.
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About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. The company manages some of the world’s greatest athletes and fashion icons; owns and operates hundreds of live events annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in licensing, sports training and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global sports and entertainment company.
About MGM
MGM is an abbreviation for MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEx: 2282) and is a leading developer, owner and operator of gaming and lodging resorts in the Greater China region. We are the holding company of MGM Grand Paradise, SA which holds one of the six gaming concessions to run casino games in Macau. MGM Grand Paradise, SA owns and operates MGM MACAU, the award-winning premium integrated resort located on the Macau Peninsula and MGM COTAI, a contemporary luxury integrated resort in Cotai, which opened in early 2018 and more than doubles our presence in Macau.
MGM MACAU is a Forbes Five-Star luxury integrated resort inspired by the arts with every element of the resort infused with creativity and style. MGM MACAU has approximately 600 guest rooms and suites and boasts a number of distinguishing features, including the architecturally stunning European-inspired Grande Praça, housed under a soaring glass ceiling. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities include the MGM Art Space, dedicating over 5,000 square feet to display authentic works of art, conference and event facilities, spa, and seven signature restaurants and bars to fulfill any gastronomic craving. Our property is conveniently located on the Macau Peninsula and is directly connected to the luxury retail shopping complex, One Central.
MGM COTAI is the latest integrated resort of MGM in China. Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, it offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, Asia’s first dynamic theater, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings and food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience. The Spectacle at MGM COTAI becomes the record holder of the largest free-span gridshell glazed roof (self-supporting) on January 19, 2019, making it the first architectural and structural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Macau, China. MGM COTAI is being developed to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau as it grows as a global tourist destination. MGM COTAI is the only mega complex and hotel in Macau to gain three-star certification in both Green Building Design and Operation Label, as well as the first hotel in the Greater Bay Area and second in Greater China to receive the certifications.
MGM China is majority owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Park MGM. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.