24 countries, 6 champions: Roster set for Family Circle Cup tennis tournament

Image by Flickr user digitalnoise

With players from 24 nations, including six former cup champions, the 2012 Family Circle Cup singles player field has been officially provided to the tournament by the WTA.

The main draw contains players from 24 countries, and is highlighted by six former Cup champions, including Samantha Stosur (2010), Sabine Lisicki (2009), Serena Williams (2008), Jelena Jankovic (2007), Nadia Petrova (2006), and Venus Williams (2004). Marking the tournament's 40th year, the Family Circle Cup will be held March 31 – April 8, 2012 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in the Best Tennis Town in America, Charleston.

"Our world-class player field includes four Top 10 players, nine of the Top 20, Venus Williams, and incredible depth provided by many of the young stars of tomorrow," said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager. "We're so glad to have six former champions return for our 40th year celebration, and we know that our fans will be thrilled to watch one of the most exciting draws we've had in Charleston unfold."

Four players had previously committed to the Family Circle Cup and have been announced by the tournament, including Samantha Stosur, Vera Zvonareva, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams.

Agnieszka Radwanska, #5 Poland
Samantha Stosur (2010 Champ), #6 Australia
Marion Bartoli, #7 France
Vera Zvonareva, #9 Russia
Serena Williams (2008 Champ), #11 United States
Sabine Lisicki (2009 Champ), #13 Germany
Jelena Jankovic (2007 Champ), #14 Serbia
Julia Goerges, #16 Germany
Shuai Peng, #19 China
Yanina Wickmayer, #24 Belgium
Lucie Safarova, #25 Czech Republic
Anabel Medina Garrigues, #26 Spain
Nadia Petrova (2006 Champ), #32 Russia
Jie Zheng, #33 China
Christina Mchale, #34 United States
Polona Hercog, #38 Slovenia
Jarmila Gajdosova, #45 Australia
Marina Erakovic, #46 New Zealand
Chanelle Scheepers, #47 South Africa
Tamira Paszek, #49 Austria
Galina Voskoboeva, #52 Kazakhstan
Irina-Camelia Begu, #53 Romania
Elena Vesnina, #54 Russia
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, #56 Czech Republic
Vania King, #58 United States
Lucie Hradecka, #59 Czech Republic
Anna Chakvetadze, #60 Sr Russia
Romina Oprandi, #63 Switzerland
Anastasiya Yakimova, #64 Belarus
Greta Arn, #65 Hungary
Ayumi Morita, #70 Japan
Kateryna Bondarenko, #71 Ukraine
Kimiko Date-Krumm, #73 Japan
Anna Tatishvili, #74 Georgia
Jelena Dokic, #76 Australia
Bethanie Mattek-Sands, #77 United States
Olga Govortsova, #78 Belarus
Eleni Daniilidou, #81 Greece
Venus Williams (Wc) (2004 Champ), #135 United States 

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