FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 11, 2014
FORMER WORLD NO. 2 AND GRAND SLAM FINALIST VERA ZVONAREVA TO PLAY AT ODLUM BROWN VANOPEN PRESENTED BY MIELE
Vancouver, BC - The Odlum Brown VanOpen Presented By Miele is pleased to announce that former World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva of Russia has confirmed her entry into the $200,000 event from July 26 - August 3 at West Vancouver’s Hollyburn Country Club.
Zvonareva is one of the most accomplished players over the last decade. She has won 12 WTA Tour singles titles and 5 doubles titles, reached the finals of Wimbledon in 2010 and the 2010 US Open, was a finalist at the 2008 WTA Tour Championship, a bronze medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has won four Grand Slam Tournaments in either doubles or mixed doubles, and won the Fed Cup in 2004 and 2008 with the Women’s Russian National Team.
Zvonareva was a finalist in 2010 to Kim Clijsters at the US Open and to Serena Williams at Wimbledon that same year. She reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2009 and 2011, and the quarterfinals of the French Open in 2003. Zvonareva claimed her first career Grand Slam title in 2004, winning the mixed doubles competition at the US Open with Bob Bryan. The 29-year-old won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2006 with partner Andy Ram, who claimed the men’s doubles crown at last year’s Odlum Brown VanOpen. Zvonareva also won the women’s doubles title at the 2006 US Open and the 2012 Australian Open. The 29-year-old finished 2010 ranked no. 2 in the world, behind only Caroline Wozniacki.
Zvonareva has spent much of the last two years on the sidelines with numerous ailments. She missed the French Open in 2012 with a hip injury and then was forced to retire against Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon 2012 because of breathing issues. She didn’t take part in the 2012 US Open due to the same illness and then had shoulder surgery last year, which kept her off the court until this past January, when she returned at the 2014 Shenzhen Open in China.
“We are absolutely thrilled that a player of Vera’s calibre has committed to play our event,” said Tournament Chairman Floyd Hill. “Having a player who has ranked as high as No. 2 in the world, and one who has so many accomplishments, should make for some great tennis. The fact that Vera has chosen to use the Odlum Brown VanOpen as a springboard to return to form after injuries is a testament to the ongoing growth and prestige of the tournament.”
After playing the Odlum Brown VanOpen, Zvonareva is expected to play at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.
“It is exciting that we can bring a player to our community that has been ranked No. 2 in the world and who holds multiple Grand Slam and WTA Titles,” said Tournament Director Ryan Clark. “Vera will likely be part of one of our early week evening feature match-ups.”
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]