Tournament officials have released the player list for the singles qualifying draw of the 2010 Legg Mason Tennis Classic presented by GEICO, an ATP World Tour 500 event that begins in under two weeks (July 31-August 8).

The qualifying list is very strong relative to most ATP events, led by 2006 Legg Mason Tennis Classic Champion and current World No. 71 Arnaud Clement (FRA); two-time NCAA Singles Champion at the University of Virginia, Somdev Devvarman (IND) who reached the third round here last year, upsetting #6 seed Marin Cilic; young Japanese star Kei Nishikori, who won his first ATP event at Delray Beach as a teenager, rising as high as No. 56 in the ATP World Rankings last year, before being sidelined with an injury; Rajeev Ram (USA), winner of the Newport ATP event in 2009; and young American Donald Young, who finished 2005 as the world’s youngest-ever No. 1 Junior, capturing the Australian Open Junior title.   Young won the Challenger at Carson, CA in May, and has also reached four semifinals this year.

The official qualifying draw will be announced on Friday, July 30, with play beginning on Saturday morning, July 31 at 10 am, and continuing through Sunday, August 1.  Main draw play will also begin on Sunday, August 1, with all matches taking place at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center (16th and Kennedy Streets, N.W.) in Rock Creek Park.  

The qualifying draw will consist of 24 players: 20 direct entries, as determined by the ATP World Tour sign-in list, and four wild card berths.  One of these four wild card berths has been granted to Devin Britton by Legg Mason Tennis Classic Tournament Director, Jeff Newman.  In 2009, Britton became the youngest player ever (18 years old) to win the NCAA singles championship as a freshman for the University of Mississippi.  Tennis fans may also recall seeing Britton in his first Grand Slam tournament when he played five-time champion Roger Federer as a wildcard in the first round of the 2009 US Open.  Six of the 24 qualifying players will earn spots in the main draw of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, which boasts arguably one of the best fields ever, with four Top 10 and eight Top 20 players.

This year’s Legg Mason Tennis Classic field is led by two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling (No. 5 on the South African Airways ATP Singles Rankings); Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych (No. 8); three-time (2001, 2005 and 2007) Legg Mason Tennis Classic Champion Andy Roddick (No. 9); Fernando Verdasco (No. 10); Marin Cilic (No. 13); marathon man John Isner (No. 18), and Sam Querrey (No. 19).

While the matches promise world class tennis all week, opening weekend – besides offering some of the area’s biggest bargains - also includes the added excitement of Kids’ Day on Saturday, July 31, from 10 am.  Sunday, August 1 is National Parks Recreation Family Day.  Not only will families have the opportunity to see some of the best players in the world compete, but they will also have the opportunity to enjoy interactive and challenging activities, meet professional sports team mascots, and much more.  A Family 4 Pack for Sunday, August 1 – which includes four tickets, four lunch vouchers and one official event program – is just $20.  Additional tickets to Family Day are available for only $5 per person.

Ticket packages for the Legg Mason Tennis Classic are on sale now and can be purchased through the tournament hotline at 202-721-9500. Single session tickets, ranging in price from $10-$70 – based on location, session date and time – are also available through all TicketMaster outlets. For more information on the Legg Mason Tennis Classic presented by GEICO, please visit the tournament Website at leggmasontennisclassic.com, follow the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Facebook at facebook.com/leggmasontennisclassic, or call 202.721.9500.