The 2012 Farmers Classic ATP 250 event starts in a couple of days! The Farmers Classic is a hidden gem of the professional tour. Some big names show up. In the past, the tournament has hosted champions that we are all familiar with; Agassi, Sampras, Connors, Mcenroe, Courier, and many more!
In 2012, the Farmers Classic will host a newer generation of players; Sam Querrey, Jack Sock [WC], and Steve Johnson [WC]. The 2012 Farmers Classic will also feature some tour veterans like Xavier Maliesse, James Blake, and Michael Russell.
I personally enjoy attending this tournament held at the University of California at Los Angeles tennis center. It is small considering some of the players that show up. No matter where you sit in the 7,000 person capacity stadium, you will get a nice view of the action and players. There is more than just the tennis, there are plenty of vendors to get the latest tennis gear and keep yourself fed with plenty of food and drink options.
2012 Farmers Classic – Who’s playing?
The seeds:
PAIRE, Benoit [1]
QUERREY, Sam [2]
MAYER, Leonardo [3]
MAHUT, Nicolas [4]
MALISSE, Xavier [5]
MATOSEVIC, Marinko [6]
PHAU, Bjorn [7]
BAKER, Brian [8]
Who to keep an eye on:
Sam Querrey, a two time champion and local fan favorite. After being off the circuit for the better part of 2011, Querrey is making his bid to get himself back in the conversation.
Steve Johnson, recently ended his collegiate career at the University of Southern California. The Southern California native has back to back NCAA singles titles (2011 & 2012) and has been faring well on the ATP tour. Johnson has already had a few results on the professional tour, with a recent win over Donald Young in Atlanta (ATP 250).
Igor Andreev, the Russian who was once ranked 18 in the world (2008), may have a fighting chance to give the rest of the field a run for their money. Andreev, who has not won a hard court title in his career, has a semi-decent record on the hard stuff, though this will be his first appearance on the courts of LA.
Xavier Malisse, the second oldest player in the singles field (second to James Blake), will try his luck in the singles of the Farmer Classic. In 2011, Malisse and Mark Knowles paired together to win the doubles title. Though, in 2011 Xavier lost in the first round. I have the feeling that the veteran play some solid tennis this year. His experience on the tour will favor him against the younger less experienced players.
The 2012 Farmers Classic is certainly a professional tennis tournament that is often overlooked. If you have the opportunity to visit the tournament, you should absolutely take advantage of the accessibility of the venue. The Farmers Classic is a male only professional tennis tournament. The tournament is the longest running professional tournament in the Los Angeles.
For more information about the Farmers Classic, check out the official website.
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