Peer to headline inaugural Citi Open draw

World number 24 Shahar Peer will lead the field of 32 singles competitors at the new Citi Open tournament that starts on July 23 at The Tennis Center in College Park, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC. Among those joining Peer are Polona Hercog, Wimbledon quarterfinalist Tamira Paszek, Bojana Jovanovski, Sania Mirza, Zheng Jie, and wild card Nadia Petrova.

Peer, who has been training in Florida with new coach Harold Solomon, spoke briefly today about her participation in the upcoming tournament. She said that she and Solomon had made a few changes in her game, including her service motion, and that she feels very good about the upcoming U.S. hard court season. The world number 24 will also play in Toronto and Cincinnati before going to the U.S. Open.

Peer also talked a little about her unique relationship with Reebok. The Israeli player said she enjoys wearing bright colors and participating in the design team. She is the only player on the tour who wears Reebok.

The new Citi Open is one of only three WTA International events in the U.S. In addition to featuring the singles field of 32, the tournament will also host a singles qualifying field of 32, and a doubles field of 16. The semifinals and finals will br broadcast live on Tennis Channel on July 30 and 31.

The Tennis Center at College Park is a USTA Regional  Training Center and is home to both the Junior Tennis Champions Center training program and the tennis teams of the University of Maryland.