Mats Wilander, winner of seven Grand Slam titles, became the fifth champion to qualify for The Masters Tennis presented by Cunard, and then explained why the new format of the event has increased its appeal.
For the first time, players have been required to qualify for the event at the Royal Albert Hall in London (30th November - 5th December), meaning Wilander has toiled through five tournaments on the Delta Tour of Champions to get there.
He started the year by reaching the final, on clay, in Rome, and will now have a shot at the brand new $100,000 prize on offer to the winner in London.
"It's very special this year having a Masters," said Wilander, after sealing his place with a win over Jan Siemerink in Eindhoven.
"I definitely feel fortunate to have made it - we're playing for prize money, which is a great change, and obviously the Royal Albert Hall is a great venue."
With an increase in the size of the field to twelve players, and an additional day of action to accommodate them, Wilander will be drawn to play in one of four groups of three players, with the top two advancing to the quarterfinals on Friday 3rd December.
It?s a change that meets with the Swede?s approval.
?You have a few extra chances this year because it's four groups with three players in each group, so you feel like you can lose a match and still make the quarterfinals on Friday. I'm looking forward to it very much."
The top ten players in the Stanford Financial Champions Tour Rankings, after all other events are complete, will qualify, with two wild cards making up the 12-man field.
Wilander joins current No.1 Jim Courier, Thomas Muster, Sergi Bruguera and Boris Becker, who have already qualified. The remaining event in Brussels, Belgium (November 4-7), will determine the rest of the field, with former Wimbledon champions John McEnroe, Richard Krajicek, Pat Cash and Michael Stich all hoping to do enough.
For the 40-year-old Wilander, it was an achievement to qualify ahead of some of the newcomers.
"We have some new players on the Delta Tour of Champions and they are a little younger than I am! The biggest problem I have is that I didn't really study the likes of Jim Courier and Richard Krajicek when I was playing because they were juniors when I was at the top, so I never had to deal with them. When I step on the court now the first thing I have to do is figure out their game, but I'm starting to learn. I really enjoy playing against them - they are great players. They just hit the ball a little harder than I do!"
To be eligible to compete on the Delta Tour of Champions, players must have been either a World No.1 during their competitive playing careers, a Grand Slam singles finalist, or a singles player in a victorious Davis Cup team, and no longer active on the ATP tour. Each event can also invite two players of its choice to take wild cards.
