Maria enters Philadelphia tournament

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova has entered next month's Advanta Championships at Villanova University, tournament officials announced yesterday.

Sharapova, ranked seventh in the world, will be making her first appearance in the tournament, to be held Nov. 1-7. Nine of the top 20 players in the world - including Serena and Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati - are scheduled to compete in the tournament.