Sara Errani heads Rio Open women's tennis draw

Sara Errani

Rio de Janeiro, Jan 7 (IANS)

Rio Open women's tennis tournament which gets underway next month will boast 17 of the world's top 100 players. The WTA event will be played on clay at the Brazilian Jockey Club February 16-22, reports Xinhua. World No.14 Sara Errani of Italy is the top-ranked player in a draw that also includes her compatriot and world No. 44 Roberta Vinci.

Organisers granted a wildcard entry to local hopeful Teliana Pereira, who made the semi-finals of last year's edition.

The 26-year-old from Brazil's northeastern state of Pernambuco has seen her ranking drop to 110 after missing the last four months of 2014 with a knee injury.

"I'm very grateful for the invitation," Pereira said. "I am feeling a lot better and I'm motivated to play again in the Rio Open."