Two of the world’s Top 15 players — No. 12 Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) and No. 14 Victoria Azarenka (BEL) — are headed to Memphis, Tennessee for February’s Celllular South Cup.
The tournament, which is scheduled Feb. 13-21 at The Racquet Club of Memphis, will also feature one of the game’s all-time greats, Pete Sampras, in an exhibition match on Monday night, Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m., to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
“This field will showcase players who may not be household names yet, but who are poised to make a big splash on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour,” said Cellular South Cup Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs.
“I expect that some of these players will be showing up in the finals of some Grand Slam tournaments soon, so we are excited to give Memphis tennis fans a chance to see them in action.”
As previously announced, Wozniacki, Denmark’s top female tennis star and the first Danish woman to ever win a Tour singles title, will be making her fourth appearance in Memphis. Joining her will be Azarenka, who kicked off the 2009 season by winning the Brisbane International, her first Tour title.
Newly announced to the field are:
— Sofia Arvidsson (SWE), who won her first Tour singles title in Memphis
in 2006 and reached the quarterfinals in the 2007 and 2008 tournaments.
— Sabine Lisicki (GER), ranked No. 56 after a breakthrough 2008 season
highlighted by reaching her first Tour final and first victory over a
Top 10 player.
— Anne Keothavong (GBR), currently ranked No. 60 after entering the Top
100 for the first time in her career in 2008.
— Lucie Safarova (CZE), coming off of her fourth straight Top 100 season
highlighted by winning her fourth Tour singles title.
— Pauline Parmentier (FRA), No. 62 in the world and winner of two career
singles titles.
— Jill Craybas (USA), No. 65 in the world and a semifinalist in Memphis
in 2006.
— Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS), a quarterfinalist in Memphis in 2008 and
No. 68.
— Marina Erakovic (NZL), No. 88 in the world and a semifinalist in
Memphis in 2008.
— Kristina Barrois (GER), ranked No. 89 after entering the Top 100 for
the first time in her career last season.
— Severine Bremond (FRA), whose 2008 season was highlighted by reaching
the fourth round at the US Open.
— Julie Coin (FRA), who had her first Top 100 season last year,
highlighted by a breakthrough run to the third round of the US Open.
— Jarmila Gajdosova (SVK), a 2007 doubles finalist in Memphis.
— Melinda Czink (HUN), currently ranked No. 100.
Rounding out the field are several players on the cusp of entering the Top 100, including Maria Elena Camerin (ITA), Stephanie Cohen-Aloro (FRA), Kirsten Flipkens (BEL), Melanie South (GBR), Stephanie Foretz (FRA), Ekaterina Bychkova (RUS), Julie Ditty (USA), Lucie Hradecka (CZE), Varvara Lepchenko (USA) and 16-year-old phenom Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR).
“We’re thrilled to be a part of bringing such outstanding tennis to Memphis,” said Jim Richmond, director of Corporate Communications for Cellular South. “These players are incredibly talented, and they will make the Cellular South Cup both exciting and entertaining.”
Throughout its history, the Cellular South Cup has hosted some of the biggest names in women’s tennis. Recent tournament winners include two-time defending champion Lindsay Davenport (USA – 2008 and 1997), three-time champion Venus Williams (USA – 1998, 1999 and 2007), Vera Zvonareva (RUS – 2005 and 2004) and Monica Seles (USA – 2002 and 2003).
Ticket packages and group tickets to the 2009 Cellular South Cup are on sale now through Tickemaster.com, by calling (901) 765-4401 or via email at ticketsales@racquetclubofmemphis.com.
