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SAN DIEGO, CA, June 7, 2006 – Four fast-rising young tennis stars currently making their mark at this year's French Open are scheduled to compete in San Diego at the 2006 Acura Classic, to be held July 29 - August 6 at the La Costa Resort & Spa . Nicole Vaidisova, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Dinara Safina and Shahar Peer will join a field at La Costa that includes many of the top-ranked stars on the Sony Ericsson WTA tour, including Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Nadia Petrova, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Mary Pierce, Lindsay Davenport, Elena Dementieva, Patty Schnyder, Svetlana Kuznetsova , and Venus Williams.
Noted Promotion Sports' Raquel Giscafré, “We are truly witnessing the next generation of top players emerge. These terrific young women have really made this year's French Open a sensational tournament to watch, and are sure to add a jolt of excitement to this year's Acura Classic.”
Nicole Vaidisova -- This year's undeniable French Open breakout star is seventeen-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova. Fresh from her win at Strasbourg the week before, the #16 seed has recorded stunning upset victories in Paris to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal. In back-to-back upset victories over world #1 Amelie Mauresmo in the round of 16 and Venus Williams in the quarterfinals, Vaidisova dropped both first sets in a tiebreaker, then came back to win both matches. Vaidisova, who has earned six career titles, will be making her San Diego debut this year.
Dinara Safina -- 20-year-old Russian Dinara Safina, currently ranked #17, reached the first Grand Slam quarterfinal of her career at the French Open when she defeated the #4 seed Maria Sharapova in a grueling 3-set match. Her Grand Slam breakout at the French Open was not a total surprise, however. Just two weeks earlier she went all the way to the finals in Rome, where she lost to Martina Hingis after defeating three top-ten players along the way (Clijsters, Dementieva, Kuznetsova). Safina will be making her second appearance in San Diego, after reaching the round of 16 last year following an epic 1st round win over Conchita Martinez.
Anna-Lena Groenefeld -- Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld, ranked at a career high of #14, reached the quarterfinals of this year's French Open – marking the first time she has ever advanced past the 3rd round in a Grand Slam. Her run ended when she lost in the quarterfinals to two-time champion Justine Henin-Hardenne. Groenefeld, who just turned 21, reached the semifinals in Charleston this year, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova before losing to eventual winner Nadia Petrova. She won the tournament in Acapulco this year, upsetting the #1 seed Flavia Pennetta in the final. She will be making her second appearance in San Diego this year, after losing in last year's second round to eventual winner Mary Pierce.
Shahar Peer -- Nineteen-year-old Israeli Shahar Peer made her mark at the French Open by defeating sixth seed Elena Dementieva in the 3rd round. She stretched Martina Hingis to three sets in the round of 16. Currently enjoying a career high ranking of #26 (and expected to move up next week), Peer has won three WTA titles this year, including Pattaya City, Prague and Istanbul, where she defeated the top 2 seeds Anastasia Myskina and Anna-Lena Groenefeld. The 2004 Singles Girl's Champion at the 2004 Australian Open, Peer will be making her second appearance in San Diego, after losing in last year's second round to Elena Likhovtseva.
For more information and to purchase tickets for the Acura Classic, fans can call the Tournament Box Office at 760-438-5683, or visit www.acuraclassic.com . Free parking for attendees will be available for opening weekend on Saturday and Sunday, July 29th and 30th .
Promotion Sports, Inc., which owns the Acura Classic and promotes a variety of professional tennis events, is a private corporation headquartered in Carlsbad, California . Founded in 1982 by Raquel Giscafré and Jane Stratton, former professional tennis players, the company is dedicated to promoting sports and women's tennis worldwide.
The Acura Classic is sponsored by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
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