Venus Williams To Play Featured Match Thursday Night

© Getty ImagesVenus Williams will begin her quest for a fourth Sony Ericsson Open title as the featured match on Thursday night.

The Sony Ericsson Open announced today that seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will be the featured evening match at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 25 following the withdrawal of World No. 1 Serena Williams.

Serena Williams, a five-time Sony Ericsson Open singles champion, was forced to withdraw from this year’s tournament due to a knee injury which she continues to rehab following her victory at the Australian Open.

2009 Sony Ericsson Open semifinalist Juan Martin del Potro has also been forced to withdraw due to a wrist injury.

Venus Williams will begin her quest for a fourth Sony Ericsson Open title as the featured match on Thursday night. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is looking for her first Sony Ericsson Open title since 2001. She has won three times in Miami (1998, 1999, 2001).

The 2010 Sony Ericsson Open still boasts an unbelievable line-up of the world’s best tennis players.

The women’s field is highlighted by 2010 Australian Open finalist Justine Henin, 2009 US Open Champion Kim Clijsters, 2009 French Open Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2008 French Open Champion Ana Ivanovic and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Elena Dementieva.

On the men’s side, 16-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer, six-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, 2007 Sony Ericsson Open Champion Novak Djokovic, defending Sony Ericsson Open champion Andy Murray and American superstar Andy Roddick will all compete for the Sony Ericsson Open title.

Tickets to the Sony Ericsson Open are on sale now and can be purchased by phone (305-442-3367) or via the internet at www.sonyericssonopen.com. An amazing two weeks of tennis conclude with the women’s final on Saturday, April 3 and the men’s final on Sunday, April 4.

ABOUT THE SONY ERICSSON OPEN: The 2010 Sony Ericsson Open will be played March 22-April 4 at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Miami. The combined event, founded by Butch Buchholz in 1985, is owned and operated by IMG. The Sony Ericsson Open is one of nine ATP Masters Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the Sony Ericsson WTA TOUR calendar, and features the top men's and women's tennis players in the world.  In 2009 British standout Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic for his first Sony Ericsson Open title, while rising Belarusian star Victoria Azarenka knocked off Serena Williams to capture her first title in Miami. For ticket information, call (305) 442-3367 or visit the website at www.sonyericssonopen.com.
 
ABOUT SONY ERICSSON: Sony Ericsson is a 50:50 joint venture by Sony and Ericsson established in October 2001, with global corporate functions located in London and operations in all major markets.  Our vision is to become the industry leader in Communication Entertainment; where new styles of communicating through the internet and social media, become entertainment.  Sony Ericsson offers exciting consumer experiences through phones, accessories, content and applications, for more information please visit: www.sonyericsson.com.  Sony Ericsson is the title sponsor of the Women's Tennis Association, and works with the Association to promote the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in over 80 cities during the year. For more information, please visit www.sonyericssonwtatour.com.