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WASHINGTON – Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams, former world ranking figures, have been invited to participate in the WTA Cincinnati tournament next month, a key event in the development of the US Open.
Each will participate in the main draw of the hardcourt competition from August 12th to 18th.
Sharapova is one of six women to have completed a career Grand Slam. The 32-year-old Russian holds 36 WTA titles, including five Grand Slam crowns, and ranks 81st in the world. His most recent Grand Slam title came at Roland Garros in 2014.
Injured in the shoulder, she missed more than four months before returning to the grass. She did, however, retire in the third set of her opening match at Wimbledon.
Sharapova won the Cincinnati title in 2011 and lost in the semifinal in 2014 in his last appearance.
Williams, 39, won seven Grand Slam titles among his 49 WTA crowns and was second in the Grand Slam nine more times. The 51st ranked American star won the singles gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and won three Olympic titles in doubles with her sister Serena.
This will be the seventh departure from Venus to Cincinnati in a 25-year career in the WTA. Her best performance was won in 2012 when she lost in the semi-finals.
Williams, a five-time singles champion at Wimbledon, sided with 15-year-old American qualifier Coco Gauff in the first round at Wimbledon on her last start.
"Maria and Venus are two of the greatest champions in the history of tennis," said tournament director Andre Silva. "We are looking forward to joining our world-class group."
© Agence France-Presse
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