INDIAN WELLS, Calif., February 21, 2007 – Gustavo Kuerten, a former World No. 1 and three-time French Open Champion, has been awarded a wildcard into the 2007 Pacific Life Open, to be held March 5-18, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Kuerten, who has been nagged by injuries the past few years, has returned to the ATP, competing recently at Costa do Sauipe, Brazil. The Grand Slam champion has twenty titles in his career and was a finalist at the Pacific Life Open in 2003. That year he defeated World No. 1 and three-time defending champion Roger Federer, which was the last time Federer lost in Indian Wells.

"I am very excited about being able to play again at the Pacific Life Open,” said Kuerten. “It was 10 years ago in Indian Wells that I had my first victory over a top ten player, I reached the semifinals once and the final in 2003, having beaten Federer and other great players. I am practicing hard, feeling better each day and looking forward to playing in Indian Wells again."

In addition to Kuerten, men’s wildcards have been awarded to rising American stars Sam Querrey, Michael Russell and Alex Kuznetsov. Querrey, who earned his first career ATP win at the Pacific Life Open last year, had a terrific 2006 jumping more than 600 ranking spots to climb into the top 150 and winning three challenger events (Lubbock, Texas; Winnetka, Illinois and Yuba City, California). Russell added three challenger and futures titles (Maui, Hawaii; Bronx, New York and Brownsville, Texas) to his collection in 2006, while Kuznetsov added one (Aptos, California). One remaining wildcard has yet to be awarded.

Wildcards for the men’s qualifying draw were awarded to Ryan Sweeting and Jonathan Schneider. Three wildcards are left with one going to the winner of the pre-qualifying tournament scheduled for March 5-6.

American Bethanie Mattek leads a talented group of future stars receiving wildcards into the women’s field at the Pacific Life Open including Caroline Wozniacki, Asha Rolle, Lauren Albanese and Anna Tatishvili. All of them had a strong 2006 campaign as Mattek reached the quarterfinals at Bogota, Colombia and Los Angeles, Woznicaki reached the quarterfinals of Memphis and captured the Wimbledon Junior title, Rolle won the USTA Challenger event at Albuquerque, Albanese won the ITF Futures event at Wichita and Tatishvili reached the second round at Charleston. In addition to these up-and-comers, veterans Lilia Osterloh, a semifinalist at Quebec City last year, and Mirjana Lucic, a 1999 Wimbledon semifinalist who is returning to the tour after injuries, will also be receiving wildcards into the tournament. One remaining wildcard has yet to be awarded.

Wildcards for the women’s qualifying draw were awarded to Lindsey Nelson, Cassandra Herzberg, Anne Yelsey, Kim Couts and Anastasia Pivavarova. The last wildcard will be given to the winner of the pre-qualifying tournament being held March 3-4.