World No. 1 Serena Williams Debuts Thursday, March 21 at Sony Open

(C) 2012 Peter Staples, all rights reservedCaroline Wozniacki defeats Serena Williams at the 2012 Sony Ericsson Open.

MIAMI, Fla. (www.sonyopentennis.com) – World No. 1 Serena Williams will make her highly anticipated return to Miami at the 2013 Sony Open with her opening match on Thursday, March 21 Day Session (Session 5). Serena’s potential opponent will be determined at the draw ceremony on Monday, March 18.

Serena has proven to be a fan favorite in Miami, repeatedly playing in front of sold out crowds at the Sony Open. If she wins her first match on Thursday, March 21 she will then play the 8:00 p.m. night session match on Saturday, March 23 (Session 10).

The Sony Open is not only known for its world class tennis, but also for an enticing two-week entertainment experience ranging from musical performances to question and answer sessions with the top players in the world. The restaurants and lounges on the Sony Open grounds offer a flavorful experience that fans can enjoy in between exceptional matches.

Tickets to the 2013 Sony Open are on sale now and can be purchased by phone (305-442-3367) or via internet at www.sonyopentennis.com. You don’t want to miss out witnessing the greatest tennis players in the world compete for the illustrious title so secure your tickets now!

Serena Williams, a five-time Sony Open champion (’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08) is looking to continue her extraordinary success at one of her favorite stops on tour.  She will be attempting to become the first woman to win the Sony Open six times. Williams is currently second all-time in wins at the Sony Open and could take over top spot with a finals appearance.

The 15-time Grand Slam champion is looking to sustain her championship form from 2012 where she won seven tournaments including the U.S. Open, Wimbledon and the Olympic Gold Medal, finishing with a 58-4 singles record. She is also currently top 10 in total career titles and top 5 in most career Grand Slams in the Open Era.

Serena will face an extremely strong field including defending Sony Open champion Agnieszka Radwanska; two-time Sony Open champion and 2013 Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka; four-time Grand Slam champ Maria Sharapova; and seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams.

The men’s field also features a powerful cast including World No. 1 and two-time defending Sony Open champion Novak Djokovic, Olympic Gold Medalist and U.S. Open champion Andy Murray, World No. 4 David Ferrer and 11-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal just to name a few. Djokovic kicks-off the evening session play on Friday, March 22 in his quest for a fourth Sony Open title, which would be his third consecutive title at the Sony Open after defeating Andy Murray in last year's final.
   
ABOUT THE SONY OPEN: The 2013 Sony Open will be played March 18-March 31 at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Miami. The two-week combined event is owned and operated by IMG. The Sony Open is one of nine ATP Masters 1000 Series events on the ATP calendar, a Premier Mandatory event on the WTA calendar, and features the top men's and women's tennis players in the world. In 2012 Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray for his third Sony Open title, while Agnieszka Radwanska knocked off Maria Sharapova to capture her first title in Miami. For ticket information, call (305) 442-3367 or visit the website at www.SonyOpenTennis.com

ABOUT SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS: Sony Mobile Communications is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation, a leading global innovator of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. Through its Xperia™ smartphone portfolio, Sony Mobile Communications delivers the best of Sony technology, premium content and services, and easy connectivity to Sony’s world of networked entertainment experiences. For more information: www.sonymobile.com

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