The St. Petersburg Open 2002 tennis tournament, an ATP ranking event, begins today at the Peterburgsky sports and concert complex. The tournament runs until October 27. The list of participants includes Andre Agassi, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Marat Safin, and other current tennis stars.

The qualifying rounds for the tournament will also be very strong. The list of entrants includes such well-known players as Marc Rosset, Cedric Pioline, and Sargis Sargsian. The 20-year-old winner of the Kremlin Cup, Paul-Henri Mathieu, will also be playing in the qualifying rounds.

Top young players will play in the Junior St. Petersburg Open. There will also be a press tournament, a tournament for VIP sponsors, and a master class.

According to Mikhail Rydnik, the director of the St. Petersburg Open, Steffi Graf will also be coming to St. Petersburg with her young son, although she has refused to give any interviews. Rydnik also announced that 'the tournament will feature the opening of the Russian Hall of Tennis Fame, which has been created under the aegis of the St. Petersburg Open.' According to Rydnik, the first four laureates will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on October 25, after the first singles semi-final.

Event source: rosbalt.com

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