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-- Anna Chakvetadze, Nadia Petrova and Nicole
Vaidisova Head the List of New Entries --
-- Event Now Boasts 13 of World's Top 15 Players --
SAN DIEGO, CA, June 28, 2007 –Promotion Sports, Inc. today
announced that seven more top-ranked players are scheduled to compete
at the 2007 Acura Classic, which will be held July 28 - August 5
at the La Costa Resort & Spa. New entries include Anna Chakvetadze
(#7), Nadia Petrova (#9), Nicole Vaidisova (#10), Daniela Hantuchova
(#12), Elena Dementieva (#13), Dinara Safina (#14), and Patty Schnyder
(#15). With these additions, the Acura Classic has now attracted
13 of the top 15 ranked players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
Jane Stratton of Promotion Sports, Inc., says that she and her
partner Raquel Giscafré are both extremely gratified that
so many top players have made it their tradition to return to San
Diego year after year, especially since this year will be the tournament’s
last. “We’ve been hearing from players for many years
now that they really love coming to San Diego because our event
is so inviting from a competitor’s standpoint. Raquel and
I have worked very hard to make our event a special one for players
and fans, and we’re looking forward to this year being our
most exciting and spectacular tournament ever.”
Here are a few facts about the seven new Acura Classic players
announced today, along with some of their comments on playing in
San Diego:
Fresh from her tour win last week in the Netherlands, where she
upset Jelena Jankovic in the final, Anna Chakvetadze (#7) will be
making her third appearance in San Diego. The 20-year-old Russian
reached the quarterfinals here in both 2005 and 2006, notching wins
over Petrova and Ana Ivanovic along the way. Like many players,
Anna says the Acura Classic is one of her favorite stops on the
tour: “The fans are good, the hotel is cool and it’s
a really nice area. Everything is close and very nice and you can
play some golf and relax. I heard this is going to be the last tournament
this year and it’s very sad because I think all the players
love it.”
San Diego fan favorite Nadia Petrova (#9) will be returning to
La Costa for the seventh time this year. Her best performance so
far was in 2003 when she reached the quarterfinals, losing to eventual
winner Justine Henin. Nadia says she’s also looking forward
to returning to San Diego again this year, for several reasons:
“Jane and Raquel and their team do such a great job in having
a very warm, player-friendly event. You don’t see this that
often any more these days. It really stands out in my mind more
than anything else.”
Czech teenage sensation Nicole Vaidisova (#10) made her Grand Slam
breakout last year when she reached the semifinals at the French
Open. This year she reached the semifinals at the Australian Open
and the quarterfinals at the French Open. She made her San Diego
debut last year, reaching the semifinals before losing to top seed
Kim Clijsters.
With two tour titles from nearby Indian Wells, Slovakian star Daniela
Hantuchova (#12) is a Southern California fan favorite, and she’s
looking forward to returning to La Costa for the sixth straight
year: “I think San Diego is one of the best tournaments on
the calendar, and definitely a favorite among the players. It's
a great venue to have the courts and the hotel in the same place
and a beautiful place to play. I'm really excited about being there,
it's a great atmosphere and I just can't wait to be back.”
Another world-class player well-known to San Diego fans is Elena
Dementieva (#13), who’ll be making her eighth consecutive
appearance at the Acura Classic. She won the Doubles title here
in 2002 teamed with Janette Husarova. She reached the quarterfinals
last year, but her best showing was in 2004, when she reached the
semifinals, losing to eventual winner Lindsay Davenport.
21-year-old Russian Dinara Safina (#14) has earned 5 singles and
5 doubles titles in her career so far, and she kicked off this year
by winning the tour’s first event at Gold Coast, defeating
top seed Martina Hingis in the final. She’ll be making her
third appearance in San Diego. Dinara is also quick to sing the
praises of the Acura Classic: “I really enjoy playing in San
Diego. It’s good preparation for the U.S. Open because it’s
very relaxed and at the same time you can work. The tournament directors
do a good job, it’s always a full crowd and it’s nice
to play for the fans.”
A 15-year veteran of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Switzerland’s
Patty Schnyder (#15) has 10 singles titles and four doubles titles
to her name. She’ll be making her fifth appearance at La Costa.
She reached the semifinals here last year, losing to eventual winner
Maria Sharapova, and in 2005 she reached the quarterfinals, losing
to eventual winner Mary Pierce.
Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Players Scheduled to Compete at the 2007
Acura Classic
Justine Henin (#1)
Maria Sharapova (#2)
Jelena Jankovic (#3)
Ana Ivanovic (#6)
Anna Chakvetadze (#7)
Serena Williams (#8)
Nadia Petrova (#9)
Nicole Vaidisova (#10)
Martina Hingis (#11)
Daniela Hantuchova (#12)
Elena Dementieva (#13)
Dinara Safina (#14)
Patty Schnyder (#15)
For more information and to purchase tickets for the Acura Classic,
fans can call the Tournament Box Office at 760-438-5683, or visit
www.acuraclassic.com. Free parking for attendees will be available
for opening weekend on Saturday and Sunday, July 28th and 29th.
Promotion Sports, Inc., which owns the Acura Classic and promotes
a variety of professional tennis events, is a private corporation
headquartered in Carlsbad, California. Founded in 1982 by Raquel
Giscafré and Jane Stratton, former professional tennis players,
the company is dedicated to promoting sports and women’s tennis
worldwide.
The Acura Classic is sponsored by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
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