Vera Zvonareva, World No. 9 and 2008 Family Circle Cup finalist, has officially entered the 2010 Charleston event.

Zvonareva is the fourth Top 10 player to enter the tournament, and she joins World No. 1 Serena Williams, World No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki, World No. 7 Victoria Azarenka, former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, and American standout Melanie Oudin as a world-class playing field heads to Daniel Island.  

This year marks the tournament's 38th consecutive year and 10th year in Charleston.  The Family Circle Cup, a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier Event, is scheduled April 10-18 at the Family Circle Tennis Center.

'We're very fortunate to have Vera Zvonareva in our player field for an eighth consecutive year,' said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup tournament manager.

'She has always made a strong impression in Charleston, firmly establishing herself as a contender each year she enters.'

A 10-year WTA Tour veteran, Zvonareva has won 351 singles matches, nine singles titles and surpassed $6.6 million in prize money.

She reached the fourth round in the 2010 Australian Open. Her 2009 season was highlighted by reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open, her best Grand Slam result, and her debut in the Top 5.

She also captured her eighth and ninth singles titles at Pattaya City and Indian Wells. Zvonareva then notched her fifth doubles title at Indian Wells, the first singles-doubles sweep of her career. She has won a bronze medal for Russia at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Zvonareva is 16-7 at the Family Circle Cup.

She ranks 24th on the tournament's win-loss record list and 18th on the Cup's money leader list with $235,170 in earnings.

'I have so many great memories at the Family Circle Cup,' Zvonareva said. 'Coming back to the city of Charleston and Daniel Island is something I look forward to each year.'

Zvonareva graduated from the Russian State Academy of Physical Education and is currently pursuing another degree in international economic relations at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Moscow.

As a member of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), she participated in the 'Political Involvement of Women in the Caucuses' Regional Conference in 2008 and was named Promoter of Gender Equity in 2009 as part of the WTA Tour's partnership with UNESCO.

For tickets or more information on the Family Circle Cup or Tennis Center, call (843) 856-7900 or visit familycirclecup.com.