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By Lauren Lynch
© ATP Champions

(August 12, 2010) Thomas Muster made a splash before diving into the depths of the draw of this week's Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions event in Portugal. The 42-year-old Austrian experienced a baseline baptism when he returned to the pro circuit to play two Challenger events earlier this summer, taking on opponents 20 years younger. Now, Muster is making waves on the senior circuit, plunging into a pool for some underwater training.



The former World No. 1 played an ATP Challenger in Kitzbuhel, Austria earlier this month, falling to 99th-ranked Dustin Brown, the exuberantly explosive, dreadlocked Jamaican 17 years Muster's junior, 6-4, 6-4, on clay.

"I still love competitive tennis. I won't set my goals too high but will just play my best tennis and we'll see where it brings me," Muster said prior to his return at the ATP Challenger in Brunswick, Germany in June. "I want to feel that tournament atmosphere again. With hard work and the right ambition, a lot is possible."

Back on the ATP Champions Tour, Muster has experienced a bit of throwback tennis in the Algarve, hosting a tennis white-out.

For the first time in 25 years, white tennis balls are being used in competitive tennis matches. It's all thanks to the tenth anniversary celebrations in the Algarve, where the tournament and its players have embraced a unique all-white theme for 2010.

The theme incorporates not only the tournament staff and officials, who are all sporting white uniforms throughout the week, but also the previously blue stadium seats on the Centre Court, which are now all-white.

Most notably, however, the players at the 2010 Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions are playing exclusively with white tennis balls in their matches. It's the first time in more than 25 years that white tennis balls have been struck on a professional court, and since manufacturers no longer produce them, tournament director Pedro Frazao had to place a special order for 10,000 balls especially for the event. They only require 2,000, but 10,000 was the minimum order to make the balls, so the event has 8,000 left. They are currently drawing up plans about how to make use of them.



"We had to place the order six months in advance," said Frazao. "I think it’s nice for the fans to see the old traditions once again and the reaction has been good from the players as many of them have never played with white balls before. It’s a good way to celebrate the ten years of the event and that’s why I asked all the players to bring white clothes and why we made a special order to Wilson to make the white balls."

Defending Champion Greg Rusedski is also excited about the tournament’s unique feel for 2010.

"I think it’s great because it’s the ten year anniversary of the event and bringing back a bit of tradition to the game is always nice," Rusedski said. "I think the players have taken a little bit of time to try and adjust to them but now that we’re adjusted to them we’re enjoying it a lot so it’s a lot of fun."

Rusedski and Thomas Enqvist are set to play off for a place in the final of the Vale Do Lobo Grand Champions on Thursday after both men eased through their second round robin matches on Wednesday evening.

Enqvist overcame Frenchman Henri Leconte 6-3, 6-4 in the second match of the day while Rusedski dismissed the challenge of Portugese player Nuno Marques 6-2, 6-1. The victories leave both men with two wins on the board going into their final round robin match against one another.

Despite meeting a total of nine times during their playing careers, Rusedski and Enqvist will be meeting for the first time on the ATP Champions Tour on Thursday evening. Rusedski currently leads their head-to-head 6-3, but with Enqvist already having won two titles on the Tour this year, the former US Open finalist will have his work cut out if he is to advance to Friday’s final.

Defending Vale Do Lobo Champion Rusedski is anticipating a closely-fought battle with the Swede.

"The big one is tomorrow against Enqvist," Rusedski said. "He’s number one in the rankings.  which obviously means he’s tough to beat.  We’ve had many great matches in the past when we’ve played on Tour but we’ve never met before on the ATP Champions Tour so that should be a lot of fun. I’m sure both of us want to win because we want to be in the final playing for the trophy. It’ll definitely be very competitive and probably my toughest match of the week."

Also on day two in the Algarve, 2001 Wimbledon Champion Goran Ivanisevic got the better of a tough battle against Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 3-6, 6-4, 10-3 (champions’ tie break).

Ivanisevic said afterwards that he was pleased with his performance in the latter portion of the match.

"I didn’t play good at the start today but then at the end of the second set and in the champions tie break I played a lot better and my game came together," he said. "Yevgeny played so good in the first set it was tough but I’m glad I was able to win."

The Croat is still being kept off the top of Group B by the rejuvenated Muster. The Austrian notched up his second round robin victory of the tournament over Jeremy Bates 6-4, 7-6(2) in Wednesday’s opening match, confirming himself as one of the favorites to lift the trophy on Friday.