First Time in Cup History These Players All Compete in Same Year
For Immediate Release, January 2007http://www.familycirclecup.com
JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE, AMÉLIE MAURESMO, AND MARTINA HINGIS
ENTER 2007 FAMILY CIRCLE CUP
First Time in Cup History These Players All Compete in Same Year
CHARLESTON, SC (January 15, 2007) Since computer rankings were started in 1973, only 15 women have achieved the status of World #1 on the women’s professional tennis tour. This year, the Family Circle Cup is proud to announce that three members of that elite club will be joining a host of other top players in battling for one of the most coveted trophies in women’s tennis. Current World #1 player and two-time Family Circle Cup champion Justine Henin-Hardenne (2003 & 2005), who has held the #1 position for 46 weeks in her career, has officially entered the 2007 Family Circle Cup. Two-time Grand Slam champion Amélie Mauresmo, who throughout her career, has held the World #1 ranking for 39 weeks will also be competing in this year’s event. Joining these superstars in Charleston is 7th ranked Martina Hingis, another two-time Family Circle Cup champion (1997 & 1999), who has also held the world number one ranking for an incredible 209 weeks in her career. This year marks the first time in the history of the tournament that all three of these former No. 1 players will be competing at the Family Circle Cup in the same year. Celebrating over three decades in women’s professional tennis, the 2007 Family Circle Cup is scheduled for April 7th - 15th at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, South Carolina.
“We are extremely proud to have three of the game’s best coming to Charleston this year. Over the last couple of years, these three young women have played such an instrumental role in leading their sport,” commented Robin Reynolds, Family Circle Cup Tournament Director. “The Family Circle Cup has always been about highlighting the top women tennis players in the world, and with our announcement today we are pleased to continue that tradition.”
Justine Henin-Hardenne enjoyed a truly spectacular season as she led the 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour with 60 match victories (marking over 400 in her career) and surpassed $13.5 million in career earnings. She reached the finals in all four Grand Slam championships, capturing her third French Open title (5th Slam title), and regaining the world #1 ranking after winning the year-end Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships. Justine is making her fourth main draw appearance after ending her 13-match unbeaten streak that nearly spanned three tournaments in last year’s Family Circle Cup with a semifinal loss to Patty Schnyder. Justine won her first US title at the 2003 Family Circle Cup, received the 2005 Family Circle Cup “Player Who Makes a Difference” award for her charitable efforts off-court, and is one of only two players (Venus Williams - 2004) who have won this event in their first appearance throughout its prestigious history.
Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, Amélie Mauresmo also had a stellar 2006 season in which she held the World #1 ranking for 34 consecutive weeks until conceding to Justine Henin-Hardenne on November 6th. Amelie became the fastest woman to earn $1 million in a season at Antwerp, bettering Henin-Hardenne's time in 2004 by one month. She topped $13 million in career prize money and increased her Sony Ericsson WTA Tour victories to 23 by capturing two Grand Slam titles (Australian Open & Wimbledon) and a pair of other events (Paris & Antwerp) as she ended the year ranked third in the world after reaching the finals at the WTA Tour Championships. Amelie was a Family Circle Cup semifinalist in 2001, but hasn’t competed in Charleston since 2002.
Back on the top of her game, Martina Hingis now boasts 42 singles titles (5 Grand Slams) and career prize money approaching the $20 million mark. She entered the 2006 season as an unranked player on the Tour first appearing on the rankings at #349 in late January. She became the “2006 Laureus World Come Back Player of the Year” by reaching the finals in four events and capturing two titles as she fought her way to a spot in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships and a year-end #7 world ranking. She enters the 2007 Family Circle Cup with a 15-2 record at this event, having compiled a 14-match win streak which she ended in the finals of the 2001 event against Jennifer Capriati, her last appearance in Charleston.
The 2007 Family Circle Cup will be held April 7th – 15th at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, South Carolina. The Family Circle Tennis Center is a public facility owned by the City of Charleston and operated by Family Circle Magazine that hosts a variety of events including concerts, festivals, tennis events and other special 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, a Grand Lawn, 17 tennis courts, all lighted for night play, a racquet club featuring a full service pro shop and locker room facilities and a full service event management staff capable of handling all aspects of an event including ticketing, operations, sales, advertising, marketing, public relations, and food & beverage. Family Circle Cup tickets for the 2007 event are available now via phone or online. There a variety of ticket packages available to suit anyone’s budget. For tickets or more information on the Family Circle Cup or Tennis Center please call (843) 856-7900 or visit us online at www.familycirclecup.com.
The Family Circle Tennis Center
City of Charleston Facility
161 Seven Farms Drive
Daniel Island, Charleston, SC 29492
Ph: (843) 856-7900 • Fax: (843) 856-7901
www.familycirclecup.com
Michael Saia
Communications Manager
Family Circle Cup
161 Seven Farms Drive
Charleston, SC 29492
Ph: (843) 849-3153
Cell: (843) 323-1803
Fax: (843) 856-7901
Michael.Saia@familycirclecup.com
www.familycirclecup.com
Family Circle Cup (April 7-15, 2007)
AVP Charleston Open (June 14-17, 2007)
