Errani heads Rio Open draw

Next month's Rio Open women's tennis tournament will boast 17 of the world's top 100 players, organizers said on Tuesday.

The WTA event will be played on clay at the Brazilian Jockey Club from February 16 to 22.

World No. 14 Sara Errani of Italy is the top-ranked player in a draw that also includes her compatriot and world No. 44 Roberta Vinci.

Organizers granted a wildcard entry to local hopeful Teliana Pereira, who made the semifinal of last year's edition.

The 26-year-old from Brazil's northeastern state of Pernambuco has seen her ranking drop to 110 after missing the last four months of 2014 with a knee injury.

"I'm very grateful for the invitation," Pereira said. "I am feeling a lot better and I'm motivated to play again in the Rio Open."

Rio Open women's draw:

Sara Errani (Italy) - 14

Irina-Camelia Begu (Romania) - 40

Roberta Vinci (Italy) - 44

Christina McHale (USA) - 51

Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) - 52

Jana Cepelova (Slovakia) - 57

Silvia Soler-Espinosa (Spain) - 65

Johanna Larsson (Sweden) - 71

Anna Schmiedlova (Slovakia) - 73

Chanelle Scheepers (Russia) - 77

Pauline Parmentier (France) - 79

Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (Spain) - 86

Sorana Cirstea (Romania) - 90

Madison Brengle (USA) - 91

Nicole Gibbs (USA) - 92

Polona Hercog (Slovakia) - 94

An-Sophie Mestach (Belgium) - 98

Grace Min (USA) - 105

Alison Van Uytvanck (Belgium) - 106

Danka Kovinic (Montenegro) - 108

Lourdes Dominguez Lino (Spain)

(WC) - Teliana Pereira (Brazil) - 110

Endi