Maria Sharapova - Getty Images

Record Breaking Player List For The Rogers Cup
40 of Top 43 Players Entered The Event

Montréal, July 5th, 2006 - The official list of players participating in the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank at Uniprix Stadium August 12-20 has just been released, Tennis Canada announced today. The top five players in the world (Amélie Mauresmo, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Maria Sharapova, Nadia Petrova) confirmed their presence several weeks ago and now Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova (6th), Mary Pierce of France (9th), Swiss Patty Shnyder (10th), Anastasia Myskina of Russia (11th), American Venus Williams (12th), rising star Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic (13th) as well as Switzerland’s Martina Hingis (15th) have been added to the impressive list. This tournament is a Tier I WTA Tour event and offers US $1,340,000 in total prize money.

Hingis, Montreal champion in 2000, made a spectacular return to the game last winter after retiring in 2002 due to a recurring foot injury. Since January, she has won the title in Rome, reached one more final, three semifinals and four quarter-finals. Thanks to her stellar results, the “Swiss Miss” went from being non ranked to number fifteen in the world in only a few months.

The fact that 40 of the top 43 players chose to enter the Montreal event is a record for the Rogers Cup.

Jean-Nicolas Verreault, 2006 Spokesperson
Comedian Jean-Nicolas Verreault is succeeding Virginie Coossa as spokesperson for the event. Verreault, a huge tennis fan, is looking forward to the role. “I’m flattered that the organizers chose me and I’m anxious for the tournament to begin,” he said. “Tennis has always been a part of my life. I played competitively when I was a kid and I’m still fascinated by the sport. Looking at all the big names that will be here in Montreal, we are sure to be treated to a week of spectacular tennis.”

Programming and new activities
The big addition this year is two Yoplait  Source giant screens on Centre Court. The screens will not only show the matches but they will also permit the use of a brand new electronic line call system used for the first time at the Miami Masters in March. This new high precision technology allows for the players to contest line calls by officials – the system can determine whether the ball was in or out. The players have the right to appeal two calls per set and one more during a tie-break. If they are right, they keep those two chances whereas if they are mistaken, they only have one chance left.

“With this new system, technology enhances performance and heightens the experience for Rogers Cup tennis fans in a very innovative way,” affirms Sylvie Charette, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Rogers.

In addition to seeing the best tennis players on the planet, fans will be able to enjoy themselves with plenty of activities on site all week long. This includes “Hit the Target” with Rogers, National Bank’s Avantage tennis clinics, the Casino de Montreal’s autograph sessions, mini-tennis, the UPS Smash Corner, improv sessions with LNI artists, celebrity matches, and dance and music shows.

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