LOS ANGELES - Reigning US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and 2008 Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, two of the top five players in the ATP World Tour rankings, have committed to play the 2010 LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance Group which will take place July 26-August 1 at the LA Tennis Center on UCLA's campus.
 
In the last 19 Grand Slam tournaments, only del Potro and Djokovic have managed to break through and claim an elusive Grand Slam title away from the stranglehold produced by the World's top two players: Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The LA Tennis Open is the only ATP World Tour 250 event in the United States to have at least one Grand Slam champion in its field every year of the Open Era.

"Getting commitments this early from Juan Martin and Novak is a great way for us to start preparations in earnest for the 2010 event," Tournament Director Bob Kramer said. "Both Juan Martin and Novak have proven they can win at the highest levels of the game. We are eager to showcase that talent during our 2010 tournament."

In his Los Angeles debut in 2008, del Potro claimed the title, which was the first of his career on hard courts. In September, the Argentine claimed his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. del Potro, who is No. 5 in the ATP World Tour rankings, will be the first reigning US Open champion to play in LA since Marat Safin played the 2001 event after winning the 2000 US Open.

The No. 3 player in the world, Djokovic will be making is debut in LA. The 2008 Australian Open champion owns 14 career singles titles, including three in 2009. The Serbian has played well in Southern California, reaching the final at Indian Wells in 2007 and winning the title in 2008.

The 2009 LA Tennis Open singles title was won by Santa Monica resident Sam Querrey, while Camarillo twins Bob and Mike Bryan won their record fifth doubles title.

The season ticket renewal process is underway now for the LA Tennis Open Presented by Farmers Insurance Group. Additional ticket packages will go on sale in the months before the tournament. Ticket information can be found at www.latennisopen.com.