Champions Tour: Possible Challengers for Ivan Lendl

It is my turn now
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After guiding his star mentee, Andy Murray, to the semifinals of 2012 Australian Open, Ivan Lendl returns to the tennis courts next week in Florida for the ATP Champions Tour.

He joins a set of seven other previous champions at Delray Beach on the Champions Tour that has seen a number of interesting showdowns in the last year.

Though the legendary John McEnroe will not appear, there are enough challenges for Lendl to bring out his "A" game.

Maybe this is a good opportunity for Andy Murray to witness his mentor on the court and pick up a few tips.

Michael Chang: Persevering on and off the Court

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Michael Chang will be remembered for his speed on the court as well as the fighting spirit off court.

He won his first and only Grand Slam at the Roland Garros at the age of 17 (the youngest-ever male player to achieve).

He was a consistent Top-10 player, with a high of No. 2 on the ATP circuit. 

Carlos Moya: French Champion

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Carlos Moya is a former No.1 player from the land of Rafael Nadal. No wonder that Moya won his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 1998.

Moya reached the Australian Open finals in 1997, while the No.1 ranking was achieved two years later in 1999.

Playing a brand of tennis that was taken to a greater height by Rafa, Moya started the bandwagon of Spanish Armada who would conquer the red clay courts in Europe.

Pat Cash: Man from Down Under

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Pat Cash won the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1987. With a highest ranking on the circuit of Four, Cash was a threat to all the leading players of his era.

Whom did he beat to win the Wimbledon crown? Ivan Lendl. Their pairing at Delray Beach 25 years later will be worth the watch.

After playing the senior event at the Australian Open, Cash will be raring to go.

Johan Kriek: Serving the World

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Kriek won two Australian Opens and reached the semifinals at the French Open and US Open.

Kriek reached an all-time high ranking of No. 7 in the world.

Kriek’s most memorable wins include victories over Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg.

He is the founder of Global Water Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering clean water to the world's communities.

Aaron Krickstein: Marathon Man

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Aaron Krickstein reached his career high ATP ranking of No. 6 in 1990.

He started early, the youngest to win an ATP Tour title as well as youngest to reach the Top 10 in ranking.

He was famous for his ability to come from behind as well as defeat players when they were ranked No.1 (Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, among others).

Jimmy Arias: Teen Prodigy

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Turning professional at 16 in 1980, Jimmy Arias reached his career high ranking of World No. 5 in 1984.

A semifinal in the US Open was his best achievement (though he managed to win the mixed doubles in French Open).

Arias is busy these days as a commentator for ESPN International and the Tennis Channel.

Mikael Pernfors: Swedish Machine

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Mikael Pernfors is best remembered for his final appearance at the Roland Garros in 1986, losing to then-World No. 1 Ivan Lendl.

Pernfors is also famous for his role in the match when John McEnroe became the first player to be disqualified under a new Code of Conduct.

A highest ranking of No. 10 does not do justice to his game and potential. Coming from a country that produced the likes of Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg, Pernfors did not take the baton forward in the true sense.