Korda coming to give champions run for money

Former Australian Open champion Petr Korda of the Czech Republic will put up a strong challenge against tennis legends John McEnroe, Pat Cash and Mats Wilander at the Cathay Pacific Champions tournament at the Hong Kong Country Club in Deepwater Bay next month.

Korda, who joined the list of Grand Slam winners by capturing the Australian Open in 1998, retired from the ATP Tour last December but joined the Champions Tour this year.

Although Korda, 33, is the youngest player among the eight-strong field, event organiser Richard Doggart said the Czech would hardly have the edge on the seven-time Grand Slam singles winners McEnroe and Wilander, 1987 Wimbledon winner Cash and Henri Leconte.

'McEnroe is so fit and competitive that he is hard to beat. I think the title will be between McEnroe, Korda, Leconte and Cash,' Doggart said. Australian Cash, who beat defending Hong Kong champion McEnroe in the final at London last year, will revive his rivalry with the American hero as he makes his debut at the Hong Kong tournament.

Brian Hung, one of the SAR's future hopes, also said he was impressed with the way McEnroe has been playing although he wasn't born when McEnroe captured his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 1979.

'I've never seen McEnroe play a live match, but I've seen him on TV. His serve-volley skills are nice to watch. It's also interesting to see him let off steam during matches. I don't particularly like Korda as [Andre] Agassi is my favourite star among those who are playing in the ATP Tour,' he said.