NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Four-time champion and world No. 10 Caroline Wozniacki has committed to play the New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara, a WTA event that is part of the Emirates Airline US Open Series and will be held August 16-24 at the Connecticut Tennis Center. Wozniacki joins No. 5 Sara Errani, No. 7 Petra Kvitova, No. 8 Angelique Kerber and No. 13 Marion Bartoli as players who have committed to play in the 2013 tournament.

Wozniacki has amassed an astounding 20-1 record in her five years playing the event, gaining fans throughout the region and earning her the nickname, "The Queen of New Haven." The Dane will return in 2013 to attempt to reclaim the title after an injury forced her to retire in last year’s semifinal match against Maria Kirilenko.

Wozniacki has 20 career WTA titles and held the No. 1 spot in the world for 67 weeks from 2010-12, putting her ninth all-time in terms of total number of weeks at the top spot in the women’s game. In 2013, she has reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, the semifinals in Dubai and the final at Indian Wells.

"I am very excited to come back and play at the New Haven Open," said Wozniacki. "I have had great success there in the past and hope to reclaim my title in 2013. I love Yale University, and New Haven is a wonderful city. I can’t wait to return."

"Caroline Wozniacki has won the hearts of New Haven Open fans over the last five years," said Anne Worcester, New Haven tournament director. "The four-time champion is a true winner on and off the court – her outgoing personality yet competitive nature make her a real fan favorite. With Wozniacki in our field, we now have four of the world’s Top-10 players committed to play earlier than ever."

This year, fans will be closer to the action than ever before, as the New Haven Open consolidates all seating into the Box Ring of the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. This enhanced proximity to the players and on-court action, as well as increased in-stadium entertainment, is available starting at just $24. Tickets for the 2013 tournament are on sale now, so fans will want to buy early to secure their seats.

Additionally, the New Haven Open is looking for its next team of ballkids. Interested kids must attend at least four training sessions between June 11 and July 27. For more information and to register to become a ballkid, click here.

For more information on the 2013 tournament, volunteer opportunities and to secure tickets, log on to www.newhavenopen.com or call the New Haven Open Box Office at 855-464-8366. Also, make sure to join the New Haven Open on Facebook and Twitter for tournament updates, contests and more.

About New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara
New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara has always been much more than a tennis tournament; it is a leading example of leveraging a large-scale international sporting event to generate $26 million in regional economic impact and to build community pride, spirit and engagement, especially among youth. The 2013 tournament will feature some of the top players in the world, including world No. 5 Sara Errani, 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and four-time New Haven Open champion Caroline Wozniacki. The women’s-only WTA event is part of the Emirates Airline US Open Series and will be held August 16-24, 2013, at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. The New Haven Open is prominently featured domestically on ESPN2 and Tennis Channel and also broadcast around the world. For more information about the tournament and tickets, visit www.newhavenopen.com or call 1-855-464-8366.

About First Niagara
First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with approximately 430 branches, approximately $37 billion in assets, $28 billion in deposits and approximately 6,000 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com.

About Emirates Airline US Open Series
Now in its 10th season, the Emirates Airline US Open Series continues to serve as a true regular season of hard-court tennis, linking nine summer tournaments to the US Open. Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova won the 2012 Emirates Airline US Open Series men’s and women’s titles. In 2007, Roger Federer collected the biggest paycheck in tennis history – $2.4 million – for winning the US Open and the Emirates Airline US Open Series titles. In 2005, Kim Clijsters also captured both the US Open and the Series, winning $2.2 million – the largest purse in women’s sports history – and equaled that amount in 2010, winning the US Open and finishing the Emirates Airline US Open Series in second place.