NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Former world No. 5 Daniela Hantuchova has been awarded a singles and a doubles wild card into the New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara, a WTA event that is part of the Emirates Airline US Open Series to be held August 16-24, 2013, at the Connecticut Tennis Center.

 

Hantuchova, from Slovakia, owns six career WTA singles titles, including winning earlier this year in Birmingham, England. In addition to competing in singles, the WTA veteran will play doubles with Martina Hingis, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame earlier this summer. Hingis’ comeback to the tour has been exclusively with Hantuchova; the duo is playing multiple events leading into the US Open.

 

This will be Hantuchova’s 11th appearance at the New Haven Open, where she was a singles semifinalist and doubles champion in 2002. She joins a player field that includes five of the Top 10 players in the world including Sara Errani (No. 6), Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli (No. 7), Angelique Kerber (No. 8), defending New Haven Open champion Petra Kvitova (No. 9) and four-time New Haven Open champion Caroline Wozniacki (No. 10). In addition eight other Top 25 players are in the field including Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki.

 

"Fans are going to have multiple chances to see Daniela Hantuchova at the New Haven Open since she is playing singles as well as doubles with multiple Grand Slam Champion Martina Hingis," said Tournament Director Anne Worcester. "We always enjoy adding well-known names to the tournament. Between Daniela being one of our most loyal fan favorites over the last decade and Martina being a Hall of Famer, our fans will be treated to two very familiar and talented players."

 

Wild cards into the qualifying draw were awarded to American Lena Litvak, by virtue of winning the 2013 Ocean State Open at Bryant University, and 16-year-old Katerina Stewart, who just won the 16-and-under division of the USTA National Championships this past week in San Diego. The remaining qualifying and main draw wild cards will be announced Wednesday and Thursday.

 

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.