Date:12/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/12/stories/2008021260571700.htm

Sport - Tennis

Agnes Szavay for Bangalore Open

BANGALORE: One of the most exciting prospects on the WTA Tour, Agnes Szavay of Hungary, has confirmed participation in the $600,000 Bangalore Open tennis championship which gets underway here on March 3.

The 19-year-old from Budapest, ranked 18th in the world, is currently her country’s highest-ranked tennis player.

She won her first career WTA title at Palermo in July, 2007 and followed it up with a win at the China Open in Beijing. She went on to make the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open in 2007. Szavay achieved her career-high ranking on February 11. Szavay is the fourth player inside the top 20 to confirm for the event. The others are Venus Williams (World No. 6), Serena Williams (7), Patty Schnyder (16) and Sybil Bammer (20).

“It is always bliss to see new talent such as Agnes and she is sure to add great enthusiasm and excitement to what already promises to be a great event,” C.S. Sunder Raju, the tournament director and secretary of the KSLTA, said.