FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 15, 2014
FORMER US OPEN MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPION AND FOUR FORMER TOP 50 PLAYERS HEADLINE STRONGEST WOMEN’S FIELD EVER AT ODLUM BROWN VANOPEN PRESENTED BY MIELE
Vancouver, BC - Organizers of the Odlum Brown VanOpen Presented By Miele are pleased to announce a strong field of women scheduled to compete in the $200,000 USTA Pro Circuit event July 26 through August 3 at the Hollyburn Country Club.
The players on the list are in addition to former World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva, who earlier this month confirmed her attendance at the Odlum Brown VanOpen.
Canada’s Sharon Fichman and Hungary’s Timea Babos highlight the women’s field as they are currently ranked No. 83 and No. 89 in the world respectively. Other notables include former World No. 29 Urszula Radwańska of Poland, American Melanie Oudin, who’s a former World No. 31, former World No. 32 Romina Oprandi of Switzerland. Overall, the women attending this year’s tournament gives the Odlum Brown VanOpen Presented By Miele a terrific mix of international flavour and top women’s tennis talent.
"We have another great draw on the women’s side again this year. Players like Vera Zvonareva, Sharon Fichman, and Melanie Oudin will make for some great tennis,” Tournament Chairman Floyd Hill said. “A combined men’s and women’s event is rare on the tour. It brings a very good vibe to the Odlum Brown and the players love it.”
In addition to Fichman, the Canadian contingent also includes Toronto’s Heidi El Tabakh, who is a 6-time ITF Circuit Singles Champion, and Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa, who is a 10-time ITF Circuit Doubles Champion. There will be other Canadian players receiving wild card positions as well.
Sharon Fichman (Canada) ● Career high WTA ranking: World No. 83 ● Four career wins over players ranked Top 50 ● 9-time ITF Circuit Singles Champion ● 22-time Grand Slam Tournament participant ● 2013 Odlum Brown VanOpen Finalist ● 2013 Odlum Brown VanOpen Doubles Champion ● 2006 Australian Open Junior Doubles Champion ● 2006 French Open Junior Doubles Champion
Timea Babos (Hungary) ● Career high WTA ranking: World No. 59 ● 2014 Wimbledon Women’s Doubles Finalist ● 2012 Hungarian Olympic Team ● 2012 Monterrey Open Champion ● 8-time WTA Women’s Doubles Champion ● 11-time ITF Circuit Singles Champion ● 21-time Grand Slam Tournament participant ● 2010 US Open Junior Doubles Champion ● 2010 Wimbledon Junior Doubles Champion ● 2010 French Open Junior Doubles Champion
Urszula Radwańska (Poland) ● Career high WTA ranking: World No. 29 ● Three career wins over players ranked Top 10 ● 2012 UNICEF Open Finalist ● 2007 Istanbul Cup Women’s Doubles Champion ● 2012 Polish Olympic Team ● 4-time ITF Circuit Singles Champion ● 31-time Grand Slam Tournament Main Draw participant ● 2007 Wimbledon Junior Champion ● 2010 US Open Junior Doubles Champion ● 2007 Wimbledon Junior Doubles Champion ● 2007 French Open Junior Doubles Champion
Melanie Oudin (USA) ● Career high WTA ranking: World No. 31 ● 2011 US Open Mixed Doubles Champion ● Career wins over former World No. 1’s Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova ● 2012 Aegon Classic Women’s Champion ● 2009 US Open Quarterfinalist ● Reached 4th Round of 2009 Wimbledon ● 5-time ITF Circuit Singles Champion ● 33-time Grand Slam Tournament Main Draw participant
Romina Oprandi (Switzerland) ● Career high WTA ranking: World No. 32 ● Reached 3rd round of 2012 Australian Open ● Career wins over former World No. 1 Kim Clijsters and former World No. 4 Francesca Schiavone ● 2014 Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem Women’s Doubles Champion ● 22-time ITF Circuit Singles Champion ● 27-time Grand Slam Tournament Main Draw participant
Tickets to the Odlum Brown VanOpen Presented By Miele are on sale now, starting as low as $17. Admission is free on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27. http://www.vanopen.com https://twitter.com/VanOpen Odlum Brown VanOpen on Facebook https://twitter.com/USTAProCircuit
2014 marks the 13th year of the $200,000 Odlum Brown VanOpen Presented By Miele, a dual sanctioned USTA Pro Circuit and Tennis Canada event. The event has an equal balance of prize money for both men and women and provides players with the opportunity to gain valuable world-ranking points on both the respective ATP and WTA Tours. Between the men’s and women’s events, it annually attracts 140 international and professional players to Vancouver from over 40 countries. Maria Sharapova, Andy Murray, Marion Bartoli, Eugenie Bouchard, Jelena Dokic, Milos Raonic, Nicole Vaidisova, and Vasek Pospisil are among today’s top stars who began their careers at the Odlum Brown VanOpen Presented By Miele and on the USTA Pro Circuit.
- 30 - Floyd Hill Underwriter and Tournament Chair (604) 844-5378 (604) 250-4404 (cell) [email protected]
Ryan Clark Tournament Director (778) 238-7904 [email protected]
Brian Wiebe Tournament Press Aide (604) 916-8448 [email protected]