JEDDAH, 30 August 2004 — The 14th Perrier Open Tennis Classic is set at the Albilad Hotel Golden Tulip courts. For over a period of one month from Sept. 9, the event will feature many of Saudi Arabia’s leading players in action.
Ahmed Mehelmy, last year’s winner of the Men’s A Singles and the Kingdom’s No. 1 player, will once again be looking to defend his title.
Stiff competition is expected from several other top players including Fahmi Saleh, a Saudi, who was last year’s runner-up in the Men’s A Singles, Manny Valleramos and Ahmed Zulfiqar.
In the B Singles category Larry Zafe will once again be hoping to reach the final. Abduljawad, a Saudi, is looking forward to give Zafe a run for his money, and Fahmi Saleh will be out to defend the Saudi category title he holds.
This year’s event is divided into seven categories — Men’s Singles A, B and C, Men’s Saudi only, Men’s Doubles, and Juniors Under-16 and U-12, Bob Wilson of the Albilad Hotel Golden Tulip, said yesterday. “We expect to receive more than 250 entries this time,” he said, adding that the closing date for entries is Sept. 6.
“The Perrier tournament has become one of the most prestigious events in the tennis calendar and attracts all of the Kingdom’s top players,” Rafi Ahmed Khan of Basamh Trading, said.
