Two-time grand slam finalist Vera Zvonareva heads the field as women continue the buildup to the start of the US Open at the WTA San Diego Open beginning Monday. The Russian who finished runner-up in 2010 at Wimbledon and New York will pick up the slack after injury pullouts from holder Svetlana Kuznetsova and world number two Kim Clijsters.
The Californian event is also missing Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, who picked up an abdominal strain on her way to the title at the All England club. Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova, the sixth seed, says she’ll try to compete even after pulling out of her scheduled semi-final at Stanford with an abdominal strain. Zvonareva is well accustomed to hardcourts, having won her last seven titles on the surface, including the new WTA tournament in Baku, Azerbajian this month. “Women’s tennis is at a very high level right now,” the Russian number one said in victory. “If I don’t have my full concentration and give my best then there is no chance to win a match.”
Zvonareva heads field at injury-hit San Diego
