The 13th International St. Petersburg Open 2007 begins on Monday, uniting some of the best tennis players from around the world.

The prestigious tennis tournament, which runs through October 28, was first held in Russia`s northern capital in 1995. The prize money on offer has increased from $300,000 to $1 million this year.

The tournament`s organizing committee is headed by Valentina Matviyenko, the governor of St. Petersburg. This year`s competition will see 32 male tennis players take part, including Russia`s Nikolai Davydenko, winner of the recent 2007 Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

Last year`s winner of the St. Petersburg Open was Mario Ancic from Croatia. A Russian has not lifted the trophy since 2004, when Mikhail Yuzhny was victorious.
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