Schnyder and Petrova enter Family Circle Cup

Two-time finalist Patty Schnyder and 2006 champion and 2009 doubles champion Nadia Petrova have entered the 2010 Family Circle Cup. Schnyder, who is a huge fan favorite in Charleston, will be making her 14th appearance at the tournament.

Schnyder had three memorable runs in Charleston. In 2002, the unseeded Swiss player defeated 6th seed Amelie Mauresmo, 3rd seed Serena Williams, Mary Pierce, and top seed and defending champion Jennifer Capriati. Schnyder and Iva Majoli made history by being the first (and only) pair of unseeded players to compete in a final at the Family Circle Cup. Majoli won the championship.

In 2004, Schnyder had straight set wins over both Elena Dementieva and Lindsay Davenport. She reached the semifinals, but was defeated by Conchita Martinez. Then, in 2006, Schnyder defeated top seed and defending champion Justine Henin in a thrilling semifinal match. Schnyder lost that final to Petrova.

Last year, Schndyer went out in the second round to a patient and very impressive Elena Vesnina. However, Schnyder and her partner, Liga Dekmeijere, reached the doubles final, in which they were defeated by Bethanie Mattek-Sands and--it all comes around here--Nadia Petrova. It was an exciting match, in which Schnyder and Dekmeijere held three match points in the super-tiebreak, only to have Mattek-Sands and Petrova save them and win the tiebreak 11-9.

The Family Circle Cup, which is played on green clay, will be held April 10-18. 2010 marks the tenth year that the historically significant tournament has been held in Charleston. Prior to 2001, it was held in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

This year's field includes Serena Williams, defending champion Sabine Lisicki, Maria Sharapova, Vera Zvonareva, Melanie Oudin, Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, Samantha Stosur, and Marion Bartoli.