(Sunrise, FL) - The toughest ATP Challenger in the world is officially underway, with a star-studded draw including Mark Philippoussis (AUS), Robby Ginepri (USA), Dominik Hrbaty (SVK), Luis Horna (PER), Karol Beck (SVK), Florian Mayer(GER), Igor Andreev (RUS), Kenneth Carlsen (SWE), Alberto Martin (ESP), Ivo Karlovic (CRO), Jan-Michael Gambill (USA), Younes El Aynaoui (MAR), and Justin Gimelstob (USA). Five top-fifty players are set to play in the main draw singles.

The main draw cutoff held at 113 – adjusted from its original 82 by results at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, CA. Players can dual-enter both tournaments, and those who lose first or second round can go straight into the PTWO or be accepted as wild cards. The tournament’s highly-sought WCs were awarded this year to Philippoussis, Hrbaty, Gambill, and Gimelstob. Final Qualifying round is set for 9:00 am Tuesday, March 15 to complete the field of 32 singles and 16 doubles teams; and Round One of the main draw begins at noon.

The highest ranked player is Hrbaty, with an ATP entry ranking of 29. Hrbaty reached the Quarterfinal of the Australian Open in 2005. In 2004 he posted his best career record, capturing three ATP titles in four finals and finishing the year at no. 14. His 2005 Indesit ATP race position is 18.

Mark Philippoussis is one of the best talents in tennis, with ten singles titles under his belt. Philippoussis has been rated as high as no. 8 in singles. He began 2004 in the top ten, and reached the 4th round at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon - for the sixth consecutive year. Philippoussis reached the Wimbledon final in 2003, and the final of the U.S. Open in 1998.

Robby Ginepri most recently reached the 05 quarter-finals at Memphis, where he lost to Andy Roddick. Last year he compiled his best career Grand Slam results, reaching 4th round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Luis Horna, currently ranked 41, is the first player from Peru to finish in the Top 50 since Jaime Yzaga was no. 31 in 1994. Last year he reached his first ATP final and won a career-high 31 matches. In 2004, Igor Andreev reached the singles semi-finals of the Pro Tennis World Open; and won the doubles with partner Dmitry Tursunov. In 2004, he finished in Top 50 for first time, highlighted by reaching two ATP finals and winning a personal-best 28 matches. Florian Mayer, currently #43, made one of the biggest jumps of any Top 50 player in 2004, climbing over 200 ranking positions from the previous year. Last year, Karol Beck finished top 50, and improved his year-end ranking for the fifth straight year. He reached his first career ATP final and won a personal-best 22 matches on the circuit.

The Pro Tennis World Open runs From March 13 – 20, 2005 at Sunrise Tennis Club, 9605 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise FL 33351.