WTA
 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who is committed to play at the New Haven Open in late August, reached the Finals at Wimbledon for the first time in her career. Agnieszka Radwanska, who lost to Williams 1-6, 7-5, 2-6 in her first-ever Major Final, joins French Open Finalist Sara Errani of Italy on the list of notables scheduled to play in the New Haven Open at Yale Sponsored by First Niagra.
I think it's a dream for everyone to be in the Final,” said the 23-year-old native of Krakow, Poland, immediately after the match. “So basically for sure I’m just very happy. Of course it’s always disappointing to lose, especially after a tough and good match, but [I’m] so very happy about my Final [appearance].”
This is hardly a case of “sloppy seconds.” Indeed, the New Haven Open is shaping up to be the jewel of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) summer hardcourt season. Of the five players committed to the 2012 field, four are in the top 10.
The tournament will be headlined once again by Caroline Wozniacki, the four-time defending champ who catapulted to No. 1 in the world rankings after her win in the Elm City last year. Currently ranked No. 8, Sweet Caroline is one of four Top 10 players committed to play this year, joining Radwanska (2), Errani (9) and veteran Marion Bartoli of France (10)—herself a Wimbledon Finalist in 2007.
Indeed, the only player committed thus far that is not in the top 10 is 20-year-old Christina McHale of Englewood Cliffs, NJ—and she’s on the U.S. Olympic Team.
“We are delighted [to have] four of the top 10 players,” said tournament director Anne Worcester. “Fresh off the French Open final, Sara has had a terrific 2012 and Marion is always a fierce competitor, so we are excited to see what they will do in New Haven in August.”
The New Haven Open will run from Aug. 17-25 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University. Qualifying play will be from Aug. 17-19, and the main draw begins play on Aug. 20. ESPN2 will be televising the tournament nationally starting with the quarterfinals on Thursday. Daily tickets are now on sale starting at $19. For more information, call 1-855-464-8366 or click HERE.
—Kristine Phillips contributed to this report |
