New Haven is the final stop on the 2007 US Open Series Road Trip, making it a preferred last minute tune-up for many ATP and WTA Tour players.
The Pilot Pen Tennis presented by Schick is a joint ATP/WTA Tour tournament and has become famous in recent years for its location on the Eastern Seaboard at Yale University, its ability to attract top quality players, and more important, its status as the last testing ground for players headed into the final Grand Slam of the season.
This year’s field suffered somewhat from the pull-outs of Amelie Mauresmo and Serena Williams, but fortunately for fans, three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport will be returning to the professional circuit in the doubles competition.
Davenport announced her decision to “retire” at the end of last season because of the impending birth of her first child, but after Jagger’s birth in June, the former top player decided that she still had what it takes to compete with the world’s best. She will not be playing singles at New Haven, only doubles with American Lisa Raymond. They are scheduled to play top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the opening round.
2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova is the top seed at the tournament, followed by Daniela Hantuchova, Marion Bartoli, and Dinara Safina. Kuznetsova already has reached four finals this season, but has not yet won a title in 2007.
Other players to watch in the draw include Patty Schnyder, Elena Dementieva, and Sania Mirza.
As a Tier II event, the Pilot Pen Tennis presented by Schick has a main draw of twenty-eight singles players and sixteen doubles teams competing for $600,000 dollars in prize money.
