Serena to defend title
AP
Serena Williams
Rest easy, tennis fans. Wars may be raging, banks and economies may be faltering, but Serena Williams' game is well.
That is very good news for the 37th Family Circle Cup as it welcomes word from its defending champion that she will return to Daniel Island for the April 11-19 $1 million women's tournament.
Williams will be joined by seventh-ranked Vera Zvonareva, last year's runner-up. Williams, the current U.S. Open champion, is ranked second in the world.
Having made a habit of defying odds in an up-and-down career that has carried her to the threshold of possibly being labeled the greatest player ever, Williams shocked the tennis world two years ago by rising from an 81st world ranking to win the Australian Open. Since then, Serena has been simply, Serena.
She demonstrated her old and newfound greatness again at last year's Family Circle, blitzing the field on her least-favorite surface, clay. She defeated then reigning Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova in a three-set quarterfinal, and eventually ended Zvonareva's string of upsets in the final.
Serena climbed back to No. 1 in the world after winning her ninth Grand Slam title at last year's U.S. Open. She's currently playing in Sydney in the preliminary event to the Australian Open, which starts next week. Williams defeated Sara Errani of Italy, 6-1, 6-2, in Tuesday's second round.
"I'm very happy to return to Charleston," Williams said about her sixth appearance in Charleston. "I love the atmosphere at this event and I look forward to the chance to defend my title in April."
Williams, now 27, has won 32 singles titles and has nearly $22 million in career earnings. She teamed with sister Venus to win the Olympic gold medal for doubles last year, repeating their 2000 success.
"We're thrilled to have both our defending champion and finalist return to lead our player field at this year's Family Circle Cup. These world-class athletes really captivated the crowd in last year's three-set final, and I know our fans will be thrilled to see them return to Charleston," tournament manager Eleanor Adams said. "Serena is one of the most electrifying female athletes in sports today, as well as an overwhelming fan favorite at this event."
Although just 24, Zvonareva will be making her seventh straight trip to Charleston, where she owns a 15-6 record. "I've had a lot of success at the Family Circle Cup and I'm excited to start my clay-court season at this tournament," said Zvonareva, who was a Family Circle semifinalist in 2007 and a quarterfinalist in 2003 and 2004.
Zvonareva won two titles last year and reached a WTA Tour-best eight singles finals while finishing the year in the top 10 for the first time in her nine-year pro career. She tied current world top-ranked and 2007 Family Circle champion Jelena Jankovic for the most match wins on the tour in 2008 with 65. Zvonareva defeated Jankovic en route to last year's final here.
Tickets go on sale
Individual session tickets for the Family Circle Cup will go on sale to the public through Ticketmaster today at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available 24 hours a day online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also can be ordered through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000, or at any local Publix location offering Ticketmaster services.
Reach James Beck at jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.
Family Circle Cup
WHEN: April 11-19
WHERE: Family Circle Tennis Center, Daniel Island
TICKET INFORMATION: (843) 856-7900 or www.familycirclecup.com
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