KUZNETSOVA QUALIFIES FOR SONY ERICSSON CHAMPIONSHIPS

Recent China Open Champion qualifies for crown-jewel season-ending $3-million event 

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open Champion and winner of three Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles in 2006, has joined Justine Henin-Hardenne, Amélie Mauresmo and Maria Sharapova in qualifying for the singles event at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, set to take place at Madrid Arena in the Spanish capital, November 7-12.

The Russian star, winner of titles in Miami, the China Open in Beijing and the Wismilak International in Bali, is currently in fourth place in the Race to the Sony Ericsson Championships with 2433 points. During the course of her four-year professional career, Kuznetsova has claimed eight singles titles, including the 2004 US Open, is currently at a career high equalling Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Ranking of No.4 and has won more than $5.8 million in official prize money.

"Qualifying for the Sony Ericsson Championships was one of the key targets I set for myself this year," said Kuznetsova. "I'm delighted to have made the Sony Ericsson Championships as one of the elite eight singles players and can't wait to get to Madrid, as I consider Spain to be a second home to me. It's going to be a fabulous week of tennis and more."

"Svetlana Kuznetsova has had an incredible year, winning three Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles and reaching the Roland Garros final. She has come back impressively from her injury problems of 2005 and her qualification for the Sony Ericsson Championships is testament to her tenacity and determination to be a great player once again," said Larry Scott, CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. "The singles field for the Championships is already looking formidable and we can all expect to see the very best of women's tennis come November."

"As well as featuring the world's very best players battling out for the honour of being end of season champions, this year's Sony Ericsson Championships will be one of the most entertaining, exciting and fan-based season-ending events that women's tennis has ever experienced," said Dee Dutta, CVP and Head of Marketing at Sony Ericsson. "The Sony Ericsson Championships is all about being the very best; it's a week not to be missed."

"We are delighted that Svetlana has added her name to the list of eight great singles competitors set to battle it out at the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid," said Spanish tennis legend and Sony Ericsson Championships tournament director Manolo Santana. "Svetlana has hit a rich vein of form over the last month and is sure to be there or thereabouts come the final weekend. She is a wonderful champion and we look forward to seeing her in November."

The Sony Ericsson Championships will gather the Top 8 singles players and Top 4 doubles teams from the regular 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season as they battle it out for the season-ending titles and a share of the $3-million prize purse. The defending champions are Mauresmo (singles) and Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur (doubles).