Tennis Stars Excited to Make History at Diriyah Tennis Cup

Diriyah Tennis Cup

Jahanzeb Amjad, Riyadh – Tennis stars excited to make history. On eve of the inaugural Diriyah Tennis Cup Presented by Saudi Aramco.

Gael Monfils

I decided to come here because of the history. It is a historical event and to be part of such a great event for the first time is very special. I think the tournament is very inspirational for the people. I am sure it will be a great show for the fans if they see the best of the best players here in Diriyah. Every player is great and here are the best of the best players. It will be tough and I don’t know who will be the winner. This arena is so big and so beautiful and to be honest: I can’t wait to play my first match tomorrow and feel a great atmosphere. Stan and I are great friends and I think it will be a lot of fun.

Jan-Lennard Struff

“I´m positively surprised about Saudi Arabia. The people are very friendly. I arrived last Wednesday and had a great practice session. It´s not a lucky draw for me. Daniil was for sure the best player in the second half of 2019. And, it will be a very hard fight”

Stan Wawrinka

The court is great. I trained today in the morning. It’s hard to compare with other courts and I have to wait. How the circumstances will change when we play at night. But it’s a great arena. I visited Saudi Arabia a few months ago and there was nothing here. It´s really impressive what they’ve built in a very short amount of time

David Goffin

The weather is perfect, not too hot and today I had a lot of fun here. It is very nice to discover another culture and a different country. I have never been here before and it is very great to be part of this event! It is the first time we have professional tennis players and such an event here. I’m very happy to be here in this beautiful arena. I´ve visited the Belgium embassy. It was a very good atmosphere and it was really nice to meet some Belgium people here in Riyadh.“

Daniil Medvedev

All of the players are very strong and tough. I don’t feel any pressure, I am just excited to be here and really looking forward to tomorrow. It is really exciting here and a completely new experience. Things are changing here in Saudi Arabia and this tennis tournament shows this. It’s very great playing here for the first time and be part of it. I think it will be a great match versus Struff tomorrow and a very special moment, he’s talented.

John Isner

“I really like it here. The weather is great, we have nice clothes. The local organisation is very professional. It began with the very warm welcome and we are feeling very good here. It is a beautiful court, a beautiful stadium. I think I could not ask for a better venue for this tournament. All the players are very happy to be here. My preparations were very well, but I think it will be very tough because everybody has trained very hard“

Fabio Fognini

“It’s my first time here in Riyadh and I just arrived yesterday. My training was very good and at the moment. It all looks very good and everything is going the perfect way. I am really looking forward to playing in front of the crowd here. The line-up is really tough, every player is strong – so it will be difficult for everyone. But it is very nice to play here in another country!”

Star-studded draw revealed for first-ever Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Saudi Aramco – serving up four mouth-watering quarter-final clashes.

Eight world-class players from seven countries set to make tennis history on Thursday in ‘momentous sporting occasion’ for the Kingdom
Players battling it for $3m prize pot with the winner to receive $1m
Ticket holders for the tennis can also watch superstar music acts. Calvin Harris (Dec 13) and Swedish House Mafia (Dec 14)

The draw for tomorrow’s opening day of the Diriyah Tennis Cup presented by Saudi Aramco. It has served-up a mouth-watering set of quarter-finals for Saudi Arabia’s first-ever international tennis event.

World number 12 Fabio Fognini (Italy) and big-serving John Isner (USA) officially open the tournament in an exciting opening quarter-final. Clash starting at 4 PM at the Diriyah Arena.
Followed by three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) who takes on flamboyant world number 10 Gaël Monfils (France).
The third quarter-final will see top seed and world number five. Danil Medvedev (Russia) face-off against German number two Jan-Lennard Struff.
With the opening day’s final quarter-final 2019 Australian Open semi-finalist Lucas Pouille (France) facing world number 11, David Goffin (Belgium).

The Draw

The draw, conducted by the players. Alongside Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, chairman of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia. Made from the stunning Diriyah Arena.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz officially opened the Tennis venue by performing the first serve in the 15,000 seater venue. The Diriyah Arena took just two months to build with a footprint of 10,000 sqm. And, has been incredibly transformed in just three days following last weekend’s historic ‘Clash on the Dunes’ heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, chairman of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia, said. “I am personally so excited. To welcome an amazing line-up of some of the very best tennis players on the planet to Saudi Arabia. Tennis joins a spectacular season of world-class sport, entertainment, music, and culture to Diriyah.

“Last weekend was a momentous occasion as we hosted a world heavyweight title fight in this extraordinary and unique Arena. And we’re now set to make more history over the coming days. Hosting top tier international tennis in Saudi Arabia for the very first time is another momentous sporting occasion for Saudi Arabia.

Diriyah Tennis Cup

“The Diriyah Tennis Cup can inspire new players and new fans in Saudi – male, female, old or young. Our goal is to have our people engaged in tennis, inspired by tennis, taking part in tennis and connected as a nation by the sport.”

As well as the eight multi-ATP Tour title winning superstar names competing, the Diriyah Tennis Cup will also witness rising stars of tennis challenge each other in a one-off Saudi special exhibition match.

Riyadh-born Michael Mmoh and Saudi national star Ammar Al Haqbani – both 21 – will compete in front of an eager home crowd ahead of the final match on Saturday, as a precursor to the tournament’s finale.

Above all, the ticket holders for the Diriyah Tennis Cup will also be able to attend weekend concerts featuring global superstars. Firstly, Calvin Harris and Major Lazer on December 13th. Secondly, the world-renowned DJs Swedish House Mafia on December 14th.