Hingis to play in Korea Open

SEOUL, July 28 (Reuters) Former world number one Martina Hingis has entered the Korea Open in September, the Korea Tennis Association (KTA) said today.

The Swiss, ranked 13th in the world, is due to arrive in Seoul on Sept. 23 to take part in the WTA tournament from September 25 to October 1.

The Korea Open was won last year by Czech Nicole Vaidisova and Russia's Maria Sharapova took the title in 2004.

''After Sharapova took part in 2004, people (in Korea) really began to get interested in tennis, so we were looking for a good player who could enhance our game,'' KTA official Lee Jin-soo told Reuters.

When Hingis made her competitive comeback this season, organisers targeted her for the Korea Open, Lee added.

The 25-year-old Hingis has climbed the world rankings rapidly since returning to tennis following an injury-enforced three-year absence from the game.

She reached the quarter-finals of this year's Australian and French Opens.

''Hingis has lots of Korean fans here and that's why she finally decided to participate,'' Lee said.

Russia's Maria Kirilenko and Sania Mirza of India are also reported to have received invitations to the tournament.

Reuters PM DB0905