Pilot Pen gets Mirza

May 17, 2006

Sania Mirza, a talented young player from India, has committed to the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament, it was announced on Monday.

Mirza, a charismatic 19-year-old, joins an impressive list of early commitments to the tournament. She will play in New Haven for the first time.

"Sania Mirza has incredible talent on the court and a unique flair off the court," tournament director Anne Worcester said in a statement. "Fans have always enjoyed getting a glimpse of up-and-coming players at the Pilot Pen and Sania is definitely a budding superstar."

Mirza joins world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, defending champion Lindsay Davenport and top-20 players Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina, Daniela Hantuchova and Elena Likhovtseva as entries to the women's field. The only player committed on the men's side is defending champion James Blake of Fairfield.

The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 18-26 at the Connecticut Tennis Center on the Yale campus. Single-day tickets go on sale June 1.

Mirza had a breakout 2005, including a fourth-round performance at the U.S. Open during which she attracted attention from fans and media for her big game and personality.

She won her first WTA Tour crown in her hometown of Hyderabad, India, reached the final at Forest Hills and the semifinals in Tokyo.

This season, however, she has struggled, winning just eight of 23 matches.