The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Hantuchova, Bartoli for Sunfeast Open

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Friday, Aug 10, 2007
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Sport - Tennis

Hantuchova, Bartoli for Sunfeast Open

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and France’s Marion Bartoli would be the top draw, alongside India’s Sania Mirza, in the third edition of the $1,75,000 WTA Sunfeast Open tennis tournament to be held here from September 17.

Hantuchova, currently ranked 10, and the Wimbledon runner-up Bartoli (ranked 11), would be the leading lights in the main draw, while Mirza, ranked 30, and Maria Kirilenko of Russia, ranked 35, are next among the big names who have confirmed for this year’s line-up.

This was announced here by the tournament organiser Globosport on Wednesday.

The tournament has shown a definite improvement over the last year drawing in four names from the top-40. The organiser hoped that the presence of so many big names would help in making the contest keener.

However, unlike the previous years, the tournament would be missing a Grand Slam winner. Former French Open champions Anastasia Myskina and Martina Hingis won the titles in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

It was also informed that cut-off ranking for the main draw is likely to be 105 with the three wild-cards to be decided a few days before the tournament.

Mahesh Bhupathi, managing director of Globosport, hailed Sania Mirza’s good form. He said Mirza’s win over Martina Hingis on Tuesday is a pointer to her capability.

“I always knew she is capable of making it big,” he said over phone from Canada. “She is capable of much more if she lives up to her potential,” he added.

About the Sunfeast Open he said, “This year we have a very exciting list with a mixture of glamour and talent.”

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