DANGEROUS DRAW FOR SHARAPOVA AT THE DFS CLASSIC
Top seed and 2004 Wimbledon Champion Maria Sharapova could
face a potentially dangerous 3rd round match-up against Eleni
Daniilidou of Greece, after the draw for the DFS Classic was
announced today at the Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham.
The Greek star is one of the most feared opponents on grass
and stretched Sharapova to the limit in the quarter-finals
last year before going on to remove Justine Henin-Hardenne
at Wimbledon.
Two-time defending champion Sharapova opens her campaign
against a qualifier or Stephanie Foretz of France. Daniilidou
is scheduled to meet British number one Anne Keothavong in
the opening round, who benefited from one of four wildcards
offered to British players.
British number three Katie O’Brien takes on 16 year
Japanese junior sensation Ayumi Morita while Sarah Borwell
and Melanie South will square off in an all British opening
round contest.
South said: “This will be my first ever WTA main draw
event, so it’s really exciting to have this opportunity.
Sarah is one of my good friends, but we haven’t played
before. It will be hard playing against her as we know each
other so well, but for all of that, it’s my job so you
just have to get on with it.”
Borwell said: “I’ve been playing really well
in Japan in the last month so I’m in good form. It will
be a tough match, but it’s a great opportunity because
of what is at stake with a place in the second round.”
Sharapova is scheduled to meet Japan’s 5th seed Ai
Sugiyama in the quarter-finals with last year’s runner-up
8th seed Jelena Jankovic a potential semi-final opponent.
London based Italian Francesca Schiavone is the 2nd seed.
The world number 12 is making her first visit to Edgbaston
in four years and faces either Maria Vento-Kabchi or Antonella
Serra Zanetti in the second round after a first round bye.
Schiavone said: “It’s really nice to be back
here as it’s like playing at home now I live in England.
I don’t normally play too much on the grass, so this
year I want to play a lot so I can do well at Wimbledon.”
Popular Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova is this year’s
3rd seed and could face Surbiton champion Kristina Brandi
in the second round. Lying in wait in the third round could
be rising Indian sensation Sania Mirza. The 19 year old from
Hyderabad is already a superstar back home and will be a popular
figure at this year’s DFS Classic.
The other highlight of opening round action features a battle
between two former top 10 stars as Australian Alicia Molik
goes head-to-head with Russian Vera Zvonareva. Molik will
be playing only her 4th tournament following a six month sabbatical
from the game to recover from an inner ear infection (vestibular
neuronitis) that affected her vision and balance.
The qualifying event will run between Saturday 10th and Sunday
11th June 2006 with the main draw played between 12th and
18th June at Edgbaston Priory.
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