Dubai: There will be some exciting first round matches and some intriguing second round clashes as Dubai braces to host the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships at the Dubai Tennis Stadium here this week.
As expected, world number one and defending champion Justine Henin has been given the top seeding while Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova is the second seed holding up the draw at the lower end. Serbia's Ana Ivanovic is the third seed while her countrywoman and a regular to Dubai Jelena Jankovic is the fourth seed.
The top four players have been given a bye for their first round matches.
"We've done our bit to take this tournament to the next level with each passing, and everyone lauded us when we announced equal prize money for both the men's and women's tournaments," stated Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free.
Tournament Director Salah Tahlak confirmed Tunisian Selima Sfar and Indian Sania Mirza as the two wild card entries based on their following at this event over the past few years.
"We were bombarded by e-mails requesting us for wild cards.
"But there are just two slots and we had a tough choice to make," Tahlak stated. Among the first round match-ups, seventh seed Marion Bartoli of France will meet Italian Francesca Schiavone, while the match involving Maria Kirilenko and Alona Bondarenko should also be an interesting affair.
In the lower half, wild card Selima Sfar will meet Russian Dinara Safina, while Sania Mirza's successful conquest against one of the six qualifiers could see her set up for a charged atmosphere on centre court against fourth seed Jelena Jankovic in the second round.
Maria Sharapova and fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova look set to dominate the lower half of the draw as the second and fifth seeds.
And a quarterfinal meeting between the two also looks likely, unless players such as China's Li Na and Amelie Mauresmo decide to intervene.
Highlights
- Equal prize money of $1.5 million for men's and women's competitions
- Eight of the top ten players confirmed to play in both events
- Barclays steps in as the title sponsor reportedly putting in $9 million over three years (till 2010).
