By Ashley Marshall
Venus Williams will put the finishing touches to her US Open preparation this summer when she goes in search of a third title at the Mubudala Silicon Valley Classic.
Williams, a champion in Stanford at the Bank of the Classic in 2000 and 2002, will look to add to her legacy at the new tournament site in San Jose, which will be hosting the event for the first time this year.
In total, Williams will be making her 11th appearance at the tournament, as she looks to lift the trophy as she did on championship Sunday against Lindsay Davenport in 2000 and Kim Clijsters two years later.
"We are very excited to have Venus join our player field,” said Tournament Director Vickie Gunnasson. “She and Serena are tennis icons, and tremendous ambassadors for the sport. Having them both competing at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is truly special."
The 38-year-old American is no stranger to success at the event, at which she also reached the final six other times, losing to Davenport in 1998, 1999 and 2004, to Clijsters in 2005, Marion Bartoli in 2009 and Johanna Konta in 2016.
Williams becomes the third Grand Slam champion to commit to the tournament, joining fellow former world No. 1 players Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka. Maria Sharapova was in the initial player field, but she was forced to withdraw due to a change in her tournament schedule.
Led by Serena’s Open era-record 23 titles, the quartet has combined to win 32 career Grand Slam singles titles.
The player field also includes defending champion Madison Keys, as well as last year’s doubles champion and singles finalist Coco Vandeweghe. Keys, a finalist at the 2017 US Open, is fresh off her semifinal run at the French Open.
The Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic is the first women's stop of the US Open Series. 2018 will mark the 48th year of competition for the tournament, making it the longest-running women's-only tennis tournament in the world.
The event will take place July 30-Aug. 5, 2018, at San Jose State University. Tickets are on sale now at www.MubadalaSVC.com.