Timo Boll, the former world number one, has been making tremendous strides in recent months and is looking forward to an opportunity to play in front of four thousand spectators at the world’s most prestigious indoor arena. “It is a very famous auditorium,” Boll said. “I have seen the tennis on television and I am sure the atmosphere will be wonderful.”
But Boll will not have it all his own way. Kalinikos Kreanga, the Greek number one, is widely regarded as the most spectacular attacking player of all time and has previous victories over Boll.
Chen Weixing, formerly of China and now playing out of Austria, also has a great chance to walk away with the winner’s cheque. The hybrid defensive player has an extraordinary all-round game, able to win with his defensive guile as well as by stepping to the table to execute huge counter topspins.
Perhaps the greatest excitement of all will be provoked by the inclusion of Jean Michel Saive, the former world number one from Belgium, who won the European Championships in Birmingham in 1994 and is still one of the most spectacular performers on the circuit.
The line-up is completed by Paul Drinkhall and Darius Knight, the two youngsters from England who are already dreaming of climbing the podium at the London Games in 2012.
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