Serena to play in Bangalore Open

MUMBAI, India (Reuters) - Former world number one Serena Williams will play in the WTA Bangalore Open this year, organisers said on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old American, winner of eight grand slam titles, had pulled out of the event last year due to illness.

A statement from the organisers said Russian Vera Zvonareva will also play in the March 3-9 tier II event along with world number seven Serena, who lost to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Sanjay Rajan; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)