Trio of former No. 1s coming to town for Bank…
Trio of former No. 1s coming to town for Bank of the West Classic
June 14, 2011 at 5:08 p.m.
Three players formerly ranked No. 1 in the world — Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic — headline the list of entries announced Tuesday for the Bank of the West Classic, the annual Stanford stop on the women's pro tennis tour. The July 25-31 event also will have defending champion Victoria Azarenka, French Open semifinalist Marion Bartoli and 10th-ranked Samantha Stosur in a field that has four top-10 players and 11 of the top 30.
Williams, a 13-time Grand Slam champion, will make her third appearance at the Bank of the West Classic. She most recently reached the semifinals in 2009.
Sixth-ranked Sharapova, a fan favorite, was a finalist at last year's Bank of the West Classic. This year the Russian superstar captured her 23rd WTA singles title in Rome and looks to be returning to the form that helped her win three Grand Slam titles.
Ivanovic is a young Serbian star who has won a French Open crown and twice finished second in Grand Slam events.
Azarenka, a 21-year-old Belarusian, has won two singles titles this year at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami and on the clay courts in Marbella, Spain.
Bartoli, champion of the 2009 Bank of the West Classic, is ranked ninth and has reached two tournament finals this year. Stosur, who reached the finals at Rome earlier this year, advanced to the semis at last year's Bank of the West Classic.
Fan favorites Daniela Hantuchova and Kimiko Date-Krumm also are in the field. Others in the singles draw, with their rankings: 13. Agnieszka Radwanska, 16. Julia Goerges, 19. Yanina Wickmayer, 27. Maria Kirilenko, 35. Sara Errani, 42. Ayumi Morita, 44. Rebecca Marino, 52. Anastasija Sevastova, 54. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 57. Simona Halep, 62. Sabine Lisicki and 69. Sofia Arvidsson.
The WTA Premier event is in its 41st year and features a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw.
For tickets, call 866-WTA-TIXS or visit BankoftheWestClassic.com.