Three-time Grand Slam Champion Lindsay Davenport and 2007 Bank of the West finalist Sania Mirza will highlight Tuesday nights action at the Bank of the West Classic.
Davenport, the former World No. 1 and three-time Bank of the West Classic Champion, will face the tournament’s No. 8 seed Francesca Schiavone at 7 p.m. Schiavone has ended the year ranked among the top-20 in four of the last five seasons including career-high ranking of No. 11 in 2006.
Mirza, a fan favorite who reached the singles final at last year’s Bank of the West Classic, will face a qualifier in Tuesday’s second match on Stadium Court. Mirza teamed with Shahar Peer to win the Bank of the West Classic doubles title in 2007.
The Bank of the West Classic also announced Monday evening’s schedule. The opening night of the tournament will see sixth-seeded Marion Bartoli face Akgul Amanmuradova in the first evening session match followed by up-and-coming American Ashley Harkleroad against Kateryna Bondarenko.
Bartoli, currently ranked 15th in the world, reached the Wimbledon final in 2007. She has three career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles to her credit.
Harkleroad turned professional as a 15-year-old in 2000 and has consistently been one of the top American players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Bondarenko has had a solid season in 2008 winning her first career Tour singles title in Birmingham and teaming with her sister Alona to win the doubles title at the Australian Open.
Tickets for the tournament’s opening rounds start at just $23. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 866-WTA-TIXS (866-982-8497) or log on to www.mubadalasvc.com.
The Bank of the West Classic, a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event, will be played July 14-20 at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium at Stanford University and features a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw. The event is owned and operated by IMG and serves as the opening women’s event of the Olympus US Open Series.