Number-one-ranked Lindsay Davenport, this year's Wimbledon champion, heads a roster of the world's top women tennis players coming to Yale to compete in the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament, Sunday-Saturday, Aug. 22-28. Among those joining Davenport are several other top 10 players, including defending Pilot Pen champion Steffi Graf, 1998 Wimbledon champion and Pilot Pen finalist Jana Novotna, Venus Williams, Nathalie Tauziat, Amanda Coetzer, Alexandra Stevenson and Jennifer Capriati. The Pilot Pen tournament features a main draw of 28 singles players and 16 doubles teams. Qualifying rounds take place Aug. 20-22. For the second consecutive year, the event will be held at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale, located at 45 Yale Ave. Pilot Pen Tennis held its inaugural women's event at the tennis center last year. The 1998 tournament drew its largest crowd ever, an increase of more than a third from 1997 (when it was known as the U.S. Women's Hardcourt Championships and held in Atlanta). A USTA event, Pilot Pen Tennis is a Tier II tournament on the WTA Tour. The USTA and Pilot Pen Tennis recently extended their agreement to host the tournament at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale through the year 2003. The Pilot Pen Corporation also announced it will continue its title sponsorship of the popular women's tennis event over the same period. "Top-flight tennis is another great event in the cultural and entertainment center of the region, the City of New Haven," said Bruce Alexander, Yale vice president and director of New Haven and state affairs, at the press conference announcing the agreement. Bart McGuire, CEO of the WTA Tour, added, "Keeping Pilot Pen Tennis in Connecticut will help build on the momentum it established last year as one of our top U.S. events." Ron Shaw, president and CEO of Pilot Pen Corporation, notes that the tournament will consist of an "outstanding field" of players who look forward to competing in New Haven as much as the city looks forward to seeing them. "Lindsay is one of the tour's most popular players and she made many friends here last year," Shaw says about Davenport. He calls Graf "one of the greatest athletes of all time" and notes, "Steffi is a great champion and we are thrilled that she will be back to defend her title." Williams, who will make her New Haven debut, "brings an exciting, powerful style of tennis to the Pilot Pen," says Shaw. "She has a tremendous fan following." Describing Novotna as "a great champion who adds class and personality to our field," Shaw says that "the fans really embraced her last year and she reciprocated by playing some of her best tennis of the year." Despite her 6-4, 6-1 loss to Graf in 1998, Novotna says she is "happy to be returning" to Yale and New Haven. "The New Haven crowds were fantastic in their support of me and I am excited about playing in front of them again." Defending champion Graf says, "I have fond memories of coming back, because I won my first event of 1998 [in New Haven]. The fans were very supportive ... and hopefully I can repeat my success." ESPN will televise nine hours of the tournament over three days, Aug. 25-27. The finals will be broadcast on CBS Sports on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m. For the Yale community Special amenities have been arranged for Yale affiliates. Wednesday, Aug. 25 has been designated "Yale Night," when all members of the University community showing a valid I.D. at the gate will receive a middle-tier tickets for $10, 33 percent off the regular price (limit of four tickets per person). Also, a "Bulldog Club" tent will be open to Yale alumni and their guests who have purchased box seats through the Association of Yale Alumni (tickets will have been stamped "Bulldog Club"). Visitors can bring in food from the food court and purchase beer and wine in the air conditioned tent, which will be open Aug. 22 and 28 from noon until match play ends. On weekdays, Aug. 23-27, the tent will be open noon-9 p.m. A gourmet food basket for four or more people may be ordered in advance. Other special events Several special events also will take place during the tournament. On "Kid's Day," Sunday, Aug. 22, children can participate in special clinics and autograph sessions. The opening ceremony on Monday, Aug. 23, will feature all the women pros on center court. Tuesday, Aug. 24, is USTA Member Appreciation Night, when USTA members will have an opportunity to meet the pros. Aug. 24 also is Girl Scout Night, when New England-region troops will be able to participate in a session with the tennis pros. Other, week-long activities include Toys 'R' Us Town, an interactive children's playground; a player booth; and daily contests and giveaways. For ticket information, call 776-7331 or 1-888-99-PILOT. T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S Yale students working with city residents to revitalize New Haven . . . Top women in tennis to vie for Pilot Pen trophy Enterprise Center helping to transform ideas for new businesses into realities With NIH support, researchers seek ways to heal spinal cord Exhibit pays tribute to Fossey's work with mountain gorillas Entomologist verifies immigrant mosquito's arrival in state Artistic transgressions applauded in Yale Art Gallery show Fellowship winners devote summer to work in Elm City Dwight Hall internships provide opportunity for public service Accomplished high school students will attend Yale as Sterling Scholars Alumni honored for their success as scholar-athletes Support renewed for Yale-China's summer institutes Links between environment, economy explored in new books Yale affiliates featured in exhibit focusing on East and West Rocks Noted pediatrician T. 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Steffi Graf