The East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife, in its 39th year, is one of the most historic events in women’s tennis and is being held for the fifth consecutive year at The Home Depot Center. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tier II event offers prize money of $600,000 to the 56-player singles and 16-team doubles draws. The distinguished tournament champions list includes Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King, all of whom have also been ranked No. 1 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour during their careers.

The East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife is part of the prestigious Olympus US Open Series, which links 9 summer hard-court tournaments to the famed US Open. This year’s East West Bank Classic marks the fifth year players competing in the US Open Series tournaments will be vying for bonus prize money at the US Open. Players competing in the "summer season" of tennis at the participating Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments will receive Olympus US Open Series points, which will ultimately earn the series winner the opportunity to double her US Open prize purse.

Sony Ericsson WTA Tour superstars Serena and Venus Williams are among the first to announce their participation in Southern California’s most prestigious summer tennis tradition, the 2008 East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife on the hard courts of The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson.

Joining Serena and Venus in the 56-player field will be current No. 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 4 Jelena Jankovic, No. 10 Daniela Hantuchova and No. 17 Nicole Vaidisova. Kuznetsova, Jankovic, Hantuchova and Vaidisova have all had successful runs in recent editions of the East West Bank Classic at The Home Depot Center; Jankovic was the runner up in 2006.

"The 2008 East West Bank Classic presented by Herbalife will once again, showcase a world-class field of champions featuring the world’s most popular players," said Scott Hanley, Vice President, AEG Sports. "Beginning with our local favorites Serena and Venus Williams coming back home to Carson together, we have already received commitments from six of the world’s top sixteen players. Southern California tennis fans can once again look forward to seeing the best players in the world competing for not only this prestigious tournament’s championship, but important Olympus US Open Series points as well."

"As part of the ‘Ultimate Tennis Celebration,’ our fans will also be treated to a week of exciting tennis promotions, offers and special events including our now traditional spectacular fireworks display on Saturday night, and popular tennis-related giveaways for children and adults," Hanley added.