World No. 21 Becomes Seventh Top-25 Player Entry
NEW HAVEN, Conn., June 9, 2004 – The Pilot Pen Tennis field continues to grow, as world No. 21 Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria has committed to make her fourth appearance in New Haven. With 10 weeks remaining until first serve, Maleeva joins top-15 standouts Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva, teen sensation Maria Sharapova, and world No. 24 Jelena Dokic, at the Pilot Pen presented by Michelob ULTRA, a US Open Series event, set for August 20-28 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale.
Maleeva made her third trip to New Haven last year, reaching the Round of 16 before falling to Magui Serna. She has posted solid results thus far in 2004, reaching the quarterfinals at Gold Coast, Antwerp, and Warsaw, and the semifinals in Tokyo. At Roland Garros in May, as the No. 21 seed, she reached the fourth round before falling to French No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo.
“We’re delighted to welcome Maggie back to New Haven this year,” said Anne Worcester, Pilot Pen Tennis tournament director. ”In her 16th year on the WTA Tour, Maggie has had an impressive career and is actually now playing some of her best tennis since she was ranked No. 4 in the world in 1996.”
In 2003, Maleeva won her tenth singles title at Birmingham and her fourth doubles title at Miami, with Liezel Huber. She reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open back in 1992 and earned a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in 1996. She dropped out of the Top 100 in 1998 after shoulder surgery sidelined her for 11 months, but mounted a steady comeback and since 2000, she finished every season ranked in the Top 20. Maleeva has reached 11 Tour finals and has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam 12 times in her career.
About Pilot Pen Tennis presented by Michelob ULTRA
“New England’s Premier Women’s Sports Entertainment Event of the Year.” The 2004 Pilot Pen presented by Michelob ULTRA (www.pilotpentennis.com), a US Open Series event, will be held August 20-28 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. Two of the world’s top five and five of the top-15-ranked players, including Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva, Maria Sharapova, and Jelena Dokic have already committed to the tournament. A total of 14 hours of Pilot Pen Tennis action will be televised nationally on ESPN, ESPN2 and CBS Sports. For information on tickets, travel packages, sponsorships or on how to become a volunteer at the 2004 Pilot Pen, call the Pilot Pen Tennis office at 203/776-7331 or 888/99-PILOT.