Thursday news from Deccan Herald
Good to know that Sunitha Rao is there for the qualies. Isha and Megha would be two expecting qualifying wildcards, I suppose...
Jay
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Preparations for WTA Open are in full swing
Hyderabad, Jan. 30: Preparations for the WTA Indian Open to be held at the SAAP tennis complex from February 3 are in full swing and some of the qualifiers, who have arrived were having a feel of the courts.
The qualifiers who practiced on Thursday were Olga Kalyazhanaya of Russia, Sunita Rao of USA, Maria Vento Kabchi of Venezuela, India’s Sania Mirza and a few Far East players. Isha Lakhani and Megha Vakharia also had a feel of the courts.
Mary Pierce, who lost in the first round of the Tokyo Open will arrive in the City on Monday, while top seeded Chanda Rubin is expected after the Tokyo tournament.
Addressing a press conference, Minister for commercial taxes K Vijayarama Rao said that the draws will take place on February 1 at the Taj Krishna at 12 noon.
The qualifying rounds will begin on Saturday afternoon, while the main draw matches will commence on February 3.
The Governor SS Barnala will inaugurate the championship, while Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will preside.
Japanese WTA supervisor Nao Kawatei was impressed by the facilities at the Stadium and said that the players would be satisfied.
He said that the winner of the tournament will be awarded 95 points, while the runner up will get 67 points. Semifinalists will get 43 and quarterfinalists 24. Second round losers will be awarded 12 while the first round losers will get 1 point.
Tickets are on sale at various e seva centres in the city. Clubs have been asked to inform the organisers about the number of tickets they wanted to be blocked.
Doordarshan Sports will telecast the tournament live. Matches on the first day will be held from 3 p.m. while on subsequent days they will commence from 3.30 p.m.
The finals will be held from 4 p.m.
$140K Hyderabad Indian Open WTA (Qualies Girls in Town!)
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