Family Circle Cup field very strong

Five former Family Circle Cup champions--Serena Williams, Samantha Stosur, Sabine Lisicki, Jelena Jankovic, and Venus Williams--will compete in the 2014 Cup in Charleston, which begins March 29. Serena Williams is the defending champion. Also in the main draw are Sara Errani, Eugenie Bouchard, Sloane Stephens, Andrea Petkovic, Madison Keys, Maria Kirilenko, and Elina Svitolina.

Svetlana Kuznetsova will also return to Charleston, after a long absence. Elena Vesnina (a singles finalist and doubles champion), Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Alize Cornet, and Peng Shuai will also be part of the field.

What a great list--and there are many more, including Lauren Davis, Stefanie Voegele and Casey Dellacqua. I'm eager to find out who accepts a wild card (Simona, are you listening?!).

This will be my 10th year to attend the Family Circle Cup, and I can attest that there just isn't a better place to be in April. The facility is beautiful, the staff is very helpful and very proficient, and Charleston is a great place to eat or to just hang out. The players get really special treatment in Charleston, too, and that's why they keep coming back.