Andalucía TENNIS EXPERIENCE

Tour stars return to Marbella

Anabel Medina

SEVERAL OF THE world’s leading women tennis payers will be taking to Puente Romano’s clay courts for the third edition of the Andalucía Tennis Experience, part of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) international circuit, from 2 to 10 April.

Formal hand-over of official BMW cars by Mario Guarnieri, in the presence of Manolo Santana and Ángel Mora, sports delegate at Marbella Town Hall.

Official presentation with tournament director Conchita Martínez, regional Minister for Tourism and Sport Luciano Alonso and Marbella mayoress Ángeles Muñoz.

The 32 participants in this year’s $222,000 tournament in Marbella include Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, winner of the 2004 US Open and 2009 French Open; former world number one Dinara Safina, also of Russia; and current world number eight, and top seed for the event, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. The Spanish challenge will be led by Anabel Medina, two-times French Open doubles winner with Virginia Ruano (2008 and 2009).

Thirty-two players will also be competing in doubles and there will be a wheelchair tennis competition.

Spain’s Carla Suárez, who is unable to take part this year due to injury, lost in both the last two singles finals, to Serbian Jelena Jankovic in 2009 and Italian Flavia Pennetta last year. Injury is also preventing Pennetta from defending her title.