Defending champion and second seeded Amelie Mauresmo is headed towards a collision course with sixth seed Patty Schnyder.
Meanwhile top seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne is bound to crash into Anastasia Myskina of Russia in a possible quarter-final line-up of the third edition of the Dubai Duty Free Women’s Open starting at the Dubai Tennis Stadium tomorrow.
The draw for the tournament, which gives wings to two weeks of unstopped tennis activity in Dubai, was conducted by the WTA Tour Supervisor, Guilia Orlandi in the presence of Dubai Duty Free’s Colm McLoughlin, George Horan, new Tournament Director Salah Tahlak and Tournament Referee Alan Mills yesterday evening.
“We are pleased to welcome four of the top 10 and eight of the top 20 players on the tour,’ McLoughlin said in his welcome remarks. Gracing the event – voted by the players as the best tournament of the year – for the first time are Jennifer Capriati and the legendary Martina Navratilova.
The draw is well spread out and has a lot of depth as far as the quality of the players go. Henin-Hardenne and Capriati occupy the top half of the draw, while the lower is anchored by Monica Seles and defending champion Mauresmo.
McLoughlin said he was pleased with the recognition the tournament has been attracting fro some of the best players in the world. “We don’t mind who goes on to win the title, as long as we are assured of some good games,” he joked.