Pilot Pen

Pilot Pen - Tennis

WHAT — A combined men's and women's tournament leading into the U.S. Open. Event is part of the U.S. Open series.

WHEN — Qualifying, Friday and Saturday; main event, Sunday-Aug. 25

WHERE — Connecticut Tennis Center, New Haven

ABOUT THE U.S. OPEN SERIES — Launched in 2004, the series is a six-week summer tennis season of 10 North American tournaments linked to the U.S. Open. Players compile points throughout the series. Ana Ivanovic and Andy Roddick (neither of whom are playing in the Pilot Pen) are the defending U.S. Open Series champions.

FIELDS — 28 in women's singles, 48 in men's singles

TOP ENTRIES — Women: top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 2 Daniela Hantuchova, No. 3 Marion Bartoli, Lindsay Davenport (doubles). Men: top seed Nikolay Davydenko (defending champion), No. 2 Tommy Robredo, No. 3 James Blake of Fairfield, No. 4 David Ferrer, Americans Robby Ginepri, Vincent Spadea and Mardy Fish.

PRIZE MONEY — $600,000 women, $650,000 men

TV — Over 20 hours of national coverage on CBS and ESPN2.

TICKET INFORMATION/WEB SITE — Call 1-888-99-PILOT or (203) 776-7331, or log onto www.pilotpentennis.com

FAST FACT — The 2006 Pilot Pen drew 100,000 spectators and was televised nationally for 20 hours on ESPN2 and CBS and in over 180 countries worldwide.