Rogers Cup 2009: Williams sisters headline tourney

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams have confirmed their participation in next month’s Rogers Cup women’s tournament. The $2 million WTA event features all of the world’s top 25 so high quality tennis action is expected to take place at the Rexall Centre in Toronto, Canada.

The top seeding goes to Russian world number one Dinara Safina, who’s also the defending champion of this prestigious tournament which runs from August 15 to 23, 2009.

The Williams sisters have recently dominated the Wimbledon 2009 tournament with Serena winning her 11th career slam and Venus settling for the runner up trophy. The sisters then went on to successfully defend the doubles title at the All England Club.

Canada’s pride Aleksandra Wozniak, ranked 22nd in the world, became the first local participant who get direct main draw entry for the past thirteen years.

Past champions of this event include Ana Ivanovic (2006), Kim Clijsters (2005), Amelie Mauresmo (2002, 2004) and Serena Williams (2001).

Returning tennis player Clijsters, a former world number one, will certainly get some media attention in this tournament considering that when she won the title in 2005, she went on to win her lone career slam at the US Open.