Stich completes the field for 'The Legends Rock Dubai'

Dubai: Germany's Michael Stich has been confirmed as the eighth and last player for this year's third edition of The Legends Rock Dubai tennis tournament.

The Legends Rock Dubai, an annual culmination of tennis stars of yesteryears, will be held at the Dubai Tennis Stadium from November 20-24.

The loaded field for this year's event consists of five former Grand Slam winners led by Goran Ivanisevic, Thomas Muster, Jim Courier, Pat Cash, Paul Haarhuis, Mikael Pernfors and the perennial entertainer, Mansour Bahrami.

"Michael Stich was the eighth and last player confirming his presence for this annual event," said Farbod Dowlatshahi, President of Delwood, the organisers of this annual event.

"We are excited about the field we have managed for this year's event. Of course, the field would have been complete if we had managed to bring in Pete Sampras. But he has not been playing, so it does not make sense bringing him in...maybe Sampras can come next year."

Stich is no stranger to Dubai, having visited it several times before. He was also part of the line-up at the inaugural edition held at the Madinat Jumeirah in November 2005.

After being organised as a social-fun event for the family, The Legends Rock Dubai takes on its new role of being part of the Outback Champions Series from this year.

The Outback Champions Series is a collection of tennis events featuring the greatest names in tennis over the age of 30.

Former world number two and Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic, former world number one and French Open winner Muster, former world number four and Wimbledon champion Cash, former top doubles player Haarhuis and four-time Grand Slam winner Courier are among the high-profile players already confirmed.

"These were among the best players of an era. And to have them all under one roof at The Legends Rock Dubai is like a dream," Dowlatshahi said.

"We had promised to make this event bigger and better and this year's tournament will fulfil this goal to an extent.

"We were on the look-out for a top-quality player who would be able to match the field we had already assembled. And Michael Stich fitted the bill just right."