TENTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Celebrating its tenth year in Charleston, South Carolina, the Family Circle Cup Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event prepares an extrarodinary 2010 festival. Visitors will witness some of the tours finest players, including Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, and Melanie Oudin, vie for the title and a chance to make history. Nine days of competition combined with off-court entertainment make Daniel Island a premiere destination April 10-18.
Past Charleston Winners
2001 Jennnifer Capriati (USA)
Jennifer reached her first Family Circle Cup final in 1990 against tennis legend Martina Navratilova. She lost that match 6-2, 6-4, but set numerous tournament records that still stand today including youngest finalist (14 years, 9 days). Eleven years later, she reached her second Family Circle Cup final when she met Martina Hingis. Stretched to three sets, Jennifer prevailed 6-0, 4-6, 6-4.
2002 Iva Majoli (CRO)
Two unseeded players met in the final, marking the first time in the history of the WTA Tour that a Tier I final was decided between two unseeded players. Iva Majoli, ranked No. 58 in the world, edged Patty
Schnyder 7-6(5), 6-4 and became the first unseeded player to win the Family Circle Cup singles championship.
2003 Justine Henin (BEL)
Justine’s 2003 victory over world No. 1 Serena Williams shocked the sports world and was the start of a year that would bring Justine to the top in women’s tennis.
2004 Venus Williams (USA)
When Venus won the 2004 Family Circle Cup title, she ended a 14-month title drought and claimed her 30th career Sony Ericsson WTA tour title. When she defeated twotime champion Conchita Martinez in the finals (2-6, 6-2, 6-1), she became one of only four women to have won the Family Circle Cup in her debut appearance.
2005 Justine Henin (BEL)
In capturing the 2005 Family Circle Cup title (defeating Elena Dementieva 7-5, 6-4 in the final), Henin became the fourth lowest-ranked Tier I winner at No. 43. She followed her 2005 Charleston win with a perfect clay court season including victories at Warsaw, Berlin, and Roland Garros.
2006 Nadia Petrova (RUS)
Nadia experienced her first Tier I victory when she beat Patty Schnyder in three sets and collected $196,900, the largest purse in the history of the event. The championship marked Nadia’s third Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title of 2006, and her second consecutive clay court tournament win, completing a sweep of the American clay court series.
2007 Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
Jelena’s semifinal match against Venus Williams, in front of the second largest crowd in Family Circle Cup history, was one of the highest quality FCC matches. The Tier I Family Circle Cup championship victory notched the third and most impressive Tour title of Jankovic’s career. Following this win she rose from World No. 9 to a new career high of World No. 7 and rode this winning streak to a career high of World No. 3 later in the year.
2008 Serena Williams (USA)
Serena Williams captured the 35th Anniversary Family Circle Cup title, defeating Vera Zvonareva in three dramatic sets. En route to this historic final, Serena faced her toughest test of the tournament when she met Maria Sharapova in the Quarterfinals. Charleston’s daily paper, the Post & Courier, dubbed the match: "Charleston's Event of the Decade - the single greatest sporting event in Charleston history."
2009 Sabine Lisicki (GER)
Before 2009 the lowest-ranked player to win the Family Circle Cup was Iva Majoli in 2002 at No. 58. So at No.63, Lisicki wasn't expected to outlast the stars. Then she beat Venus. Lisicki, 19, matched the American’s serve and groundstroke to pull off her biggest career win, 6-4 7-6(5). In the final, Lisicki met Caroline Wozniacki and edged the Dane 6-2, 6-4. This win marked Lisicki’s first WTA career title.
FEATURED TENNIS STARS
In celebration of the Family Circle Cup’s tenth year in Charleston, a session has been added Saturday night, April 17. Game, Set, Rock! Tennis. Amplified will showcase John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Anna Kournikova, along with a guest tennis star, competing in singles and mixed doubles exhibitions. Spectators will enjoy the sounds of Charleston’s favorite country and bluegrass group, The Blue Dogs, entertaining throughout the event.
Anna Kournikova
Bringing beauty and backhands to the stadium is Anna Kournikova, who, at 14, became the youngest player to win a Fed Cup match. In 1997, The Russian became the second woman in the Open era, after Chris Evert, to reach the Wimbledon semifinals in her career debut. She would ultimately reach a career high ranking No. 8 in singles and No. 1 in doubles. Anna notched a 5-4 record at the Family Circle Cup, reaching the finals opposite 1999 champion Martina Hingis. When the 28-year-old Miami resident isn’t playing tennis exhibitions, she enjoys modeling and
charity work.
John McEnroe
John McEnroe burst onto the international tennis scene prior to becoming a student at Stanford University. In 1977, he reached the Wimbledon semifinals and then turned pro the following year after just one year in college. McEnroe played on U.S. Davis Cup teams a record 13 years, contributing to five cup titles (1978, ‘79, ‘81, ‘82, ‘92); he finished four consecutive years as the No. 1 player in the world (1981-84), becoming the youngest man to achieve the top ranking. The American lefty notched 155 career titles (77 singles, 78 doubles) and won 17 Grand Slam titles (seven singles, 10 doubles). Since 2005, McEnroe has enjoyed great successful on the Outback Champions Series. He is one of the most recognizable tennis stars of the Open era, appreciated not only for his tennis talents, but for his entertainment value.
Jim Courier
Jim Courier dominated the men’s professional tennis circuit in the early 1990s. Best known for his grit, determination and a punishing inside-out forehand, Courier was the first in his class of American champions, which includes Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, to hold the No. 1 world ranking. He captured four Grand Slam titles – two in France, two in Australia and in 2005, the American was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Today, in addition to operating and competing on the Champions Series, the 39-year-old champion works as a TV commentator and enjoys music and golf.
EVENT CALENDAR + ON-SITE ACTIVITIES
Family Circle Cup
April 10-18, 2010
Location:
Family Circle Tennis Center
161 Seven Farms Drive
Daniel Island
Charleston, SC 29492
Team Packages:
800.677.2293
www.familycirclecup.com
Saturday - 10th Opening Day
Featuring a climbing wall, inflatable obstacle courses, music and more.
Free for children under 12, adult price $10. Ticket allows unlimited access to all activities.
Tuesday - 13th The Post & Courier’s Girls Night Out
The coolest chicks in town gather for an evening of fun and tennis.
Tickets for this promotion are half price for women.
Tuesday - 13th Winning in Double Luncheon (11am-12:30pm)
Join Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles players. $45 ticket includes lunch,
strategy presentation, Q&A, autograph session and more. Reservations required.
Wednesday - 14th USTA Member Appreciation Day (1:30-3pm)
A private member reception in the Family Circle Hospitality Tent.
Members enjoy a $10 discount on all session tickets Monday, April 12 - Wednesday, April 14.
Wednesday - 14th Mohawk Carpeting’s Family Night
Kids 16 and younger enjoy free admission when accompanied by an adult (adult tickets $10 each).
Special activities 4:00-7:00, followed by tennis.
Thursday - 15th Center for Women Luncheon (Noon-2pm)
Spend a Day Session in the Family Circle Sky Suite with a catered lunch. Enjoy a luncheon buffet, official tournament program, and parking pass. $65 Members/$75 Non-Members.
Friday & Saturday I 15th & 17th Great American Bake Sale
Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale® presented by Domino® Sugar and C&H® mobilizes Americans to end childhood hunger by holding bake sales in their communities.
Saturday - 17th (7pm) GAME, SET, ROCK! TENNIS. AMPLIFIED.
John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Anna Kournikova, and another guest tennis star will compete in
singles and mixed doubles exhibitions, while Charleston’s favorite country and bluegrass group,
The Blue Dogs, perform live on stage.
EVERYDAY: Match Point Market
A unique shopping where fans break from on-court action to purchase jewelry, crafts,
fine clothing, spa products, and other treasures.
EVERYDAY: Happy Hours & Night Matches
Enjoy daily drink specials and entertainment 5-7 pm at the Island House Bar on the Grand Lawn. 
