Home Depot Center News

Player All Access Hour Scheduled TODAY -- Monday, August 6 at 2 p.m. at The Home Depot Center

WHO
7 seeds in the 2007 East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife
2. Jelena Jankovic - Finalist at the East West Bank Classic in 2006
3. Ana Ivanovic - World No. 5 ranked player returning to LA for second year in a row
4. Nadia Petrova - Won the Paris indoor championships this year
5. Daniela Hantuchova - Ranked No. 10 and winner of this year's Indian Wells
6. Marion Bartoli - 2007 Wimbledon finalist & ranked No. 12
7. Martina Hingis - First time returning to this tournament since 2001
8. Dinara Safina - Won Gold Coast Championship in January, her fifth career title

Other Players are available by Request. Times to be determined.

PLEASE NOTE
Since No. 1 seed Maria Sharapova captured her first singles title of the season today at the Acura Classic in San Diego, she will be available to the media on Tuesday, August 7 at 2:00 p.m. in the Press Room at The Home Depot Center for one hour to answer questions about the East West Bank Classic presented By Herbalife. Sharapova defeated Patty Schnyder in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.

WHAT
\"All-Access Hour\" - The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour initiative, called the \"All-Access Hour,\" makes the top seeds available for media roundtable interviews for one hour at the start of all Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tier I and II tournaments, in an effort to increase media access to the Tour's top players.

ALL ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW REQUESTS DURING THIS TIME MUST BE MADE THROUGH THE SONY ERICSSON WTA TOUR. PLEASE E-MAIL REQUESTS TO AMY BINDER at abinder@wtatour.com.

WHEN
TODAY -- Monday, August 6, 2007; 2:00 p.m.
Note: Interviews to begin promptly at 2:00 p.m. Please arrive on time.

WHERE
The American Express Stadium Club at The Home Depot Center
18400 Avalon Blvd., Carson, California

ADDITIONAL NOTES
Qualifiers Are Set for Main Singles Draw: The following players qualified for the main draw after securing a slot with wins in today's final round of qualifying matches: Yuliana Fedak (UKR) defeated Yaroslava Shvedova (RUS) 6-4, 7-5
Lilia Osterloh (USA) defeated Angela Haynes (USA) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
Ashley Harkleroad (USA) defeated Hana Sromova (CZE) 7-6 (5), 6-2
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) defeated Bethanie Mattek (USA) 6-2, 7-5
Tiantian Sun (CHN) defeated Alberta Brianti (ITA) 6-3, 6-2
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) defeated Anne Kremer (LUX) 6-3, 6-2
Zi Yan (CHN) defeated Natalie Frazier (USA) 5-7, 6-4 6-2
Olga Govortsova (BLR) defeated Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) 6-1, 6-1

PRATT WITHDRAWS FROM TOURNAMENT
Nicole Pratt, ranked No. 48 has withdrawn from the East West Bank Classic Presented by Herbalife with a right knee injury. Since Pratt and Meilen Tu have withdrawn two additional players were added to the singles tournament this afternoon.

MONDAY'S SCHEDULE
Opening day matches will begin at 11:00 am on courts 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Sania Mirza (IND), will face off against Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) on center court following the McEnroe and Courier exhibition, For a complete schedule of tomorrow's opening matches, please visit www.eastwestbankclassic.com

AND ON MONDAY NIGHT
Following the opening matches on Monday two of tennis' most legendary players in John McEnroe, winner of 77 career singles tennis titles, including seven Grand Slams, and Jim Courier, owner of 23 career singles titles will play an evening exhibition match on center court. The special exhibition match, presented by East West Bank, is part of the opening night of the East West Bank Classic at The Home Depot Center. The two former World No. 1's will play a best two of three sets beginning at 7:00 pm and the first 2,500 fans will receive a complimentary draw string back pack.

CREDENTIAL PICKUP
Media credentials can be picked up beginning Monday August 6, at 3:00 p.m. in the Credential Tent, located at Lot #15, adjacent to the main entrance of the stadium. Upon credential pickup, you will receive a full schedule for the week, which also includes the tournament schedule, hours of operation for the Press Room, media catering schedule and other important information.

PRESS ROOM INFORMATION
Press Room access and post-match interview room - begins Monday, August 6 at 3:00 p.m. Wireless Internet Access and Charge-Line Phones will be available for media use. The press room phone number is 310-630-4051 or 4052 and the press room fax number is 310-630-4058.

About the East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife
The East West Bank Classic Presented by Herbalife, at 38 years old, is one of the most historic events in women's tennis, and is being held for the fourth consecutive year at The Home Depot Center. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tier II event offers prize money of $600,000 to the 56-player singles and 16-team doubles draws. The distinguished tournament champions' list includes Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, all of whom have also been ranked number one on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour during their careers. For more information please visit www.eastwestbankclassic.com.

Contact:
Charles Harris
949-838-4214
harris2005@cox.net