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Maria Sharapova Enters 2010 Family Circle Cup
For Immediate Release, November 2009
The Family Circle Cup is proud to announce that former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam Champion, has officially entered the 2010 tournament. Sharapova enters this Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier Event currently ranked No. 14 in the world after posting a strong finish to the 2009 season, which included her 20th Tour singles title at Tokyo. She joins 18-year-old American standout Melanie Oudin, who captivated the tennis world with her 2009 US Open quarterfinal run, as a world class player field begins to assemble on Daniel Island. Marking the tournament’s 38th consecutive year and 10th year in Charleston, the Family Circle Cup, a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier event, is scheduled April 10-18, 2010 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in historic Charleston, South Carolina.
“Maria Sharapova is one of the most exciting and talented players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, and this high profile addition is the first step towards making this year’s tournament the best in our history,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager. “We’re thrilled that she will begin her clay court season at the Family Circle Cup in preparation for her pursuit of the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.”
Building on a stellar career, Sharapova posted solid results in 2009 despite recovering from a right shoulder injury. She was a quarterfinalist at Warsaw, Roland Garros and Stanford, semifinalist at Birmingham and Los Angeles, finalist at Toronto, and champion at Tokyo.
“Competing on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour allows me to experience so many beautiful cities around the world, and Charleston is certainly one of my favorite places to visit. The fans at the tournament and throughout the city are always friendly and welcoming,” commented Maria Sharapova. “I’ve played well at the Family Circle Cup in the past, and I look forward to competing in this historic tournament again.”
The 22-year-old, six-foot two-inch Russian superstar owns a 336-79 singles record, has amassed over $13 million in career earnings, and has notched Grand Slam titles on three different continents.
Sharapova made her first appearance in Charleston as a 15-year-old qualifier, reaching the first round of main draw play in 2003. She returned to the Holy City in 2008 as the tournament’s No. 2 seed where she reached the quarterfinals opposite Serena Williams in a nationally televised 3-set match deemed by the Post & Courier, Charleston’s only daily newspaper, as “Charleston’s event of the decade - the single greatest sporting event in Charleston history”.
For more information about this Russian superstar, visit her official web site at MariaSharapova.com.
Family Circle Cup ticket packages are on-sale now, and individual ticket sales will begin in January, 2010. Fans are urged to visit familycirclecup.com for continuous updates on ticket information and player commitments as the tournament approaches.
The Family Circle Cup is scheduled April 10-18, 2010 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, SC. The Family Circle Tennis Center is a public facility owned by the City of Charleston and operated by Meredith Corporation that also hosts a variety of additional events including concerts, festivals, tennis tournaments and other activities throughout the year. With over 21 million readers, Family Circle is one of the most widely read monthly magazines in America and is one of 14 leading subscription magazines owned by Meredith Corporation. The Tennis Center features a 10,200 seat stadium, Grand Lawn, 17 tennis courts lighted for night play, and a Pro Shop. For tickets or more info, call (843) 856-7900 or visit familycirclecup.com.
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