Former world number one Serena Williams [ Images ] will play in the WTA Bangalore Open this year, its 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 [ Images ] 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 [ Images ] on Tuesday.