Sareena Williams to arrive on February 10

Bangalore, Feb 6 (UNI) Australian Open winner Serena Williams will be arrive here on February 10 to play in the Sony Ericsson International WTA tournament Tier III beginning here from February 12 to 18.

After making a great come back by winning the recently concluded Australian Open, Serena would be playing her first WTA tournament in India. The former World No 1, who shot to 14 Ranking from 81 before Australian Open, is all set climb up further in the ranking.

Meanwhile, a promising Indian Junior player Tara Iyer was given wild card for the event.

The Court was given a colourful look with playing area painted Violet and surroundings green. "The colour was selected on the option given by the WTA", Tournament Organising Committee Chairman Sunder Raju told newsmen here today.

He said that Electronic scoring machines would alsobe installed.

Mr Sunder Raju said that, besides Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza, 22 leading international Tennis players from across the world would be vying for top honours in the USD 175,000 tournament, qualifying rounds of which begins from February 10.

He said that Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will be making main draw on the portals of Vidhana Soudha, the State Secretariat on February 10.

He said that there was overwhelming response for tickets and more than 40,000 tennis lovers were expected to witness the tournament.

UNI