ID :
207466
Fri, 09/16/2011 - 03:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207466
The shortlink copeid
Two top-10 players headline field for int'l tennis event in Seoul
SEOUL (Yonhap) - Former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy and world No. 10 Marion Bartoli of France will headline the field at the Hansol Korea Open tennis tournament starting this weekend.
The only Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament in South Korea will kick off Saturday at Seoul Olympic Park with the qualifying rounds. The final is set for Sept. 25.
Schiavone, No. 8 in the world, and Bartoli, runner-up at the 2007 Wimbledon, are the highest-ranked players in the field this year. Inaugurated in 2004, the tournament has attracted some big names in women's tennis including former No. 1 players Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Dinara Safina. Sharapova was the first-ever Korea Open champion and Williams took her title in 2007.
The total prize money is US$220,000.
Schiavone and Bartoli are the top two seeds. Other contenders include Julia Goerges of Germany and Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia. Both players have beaten world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki twice this season.
No South Korean player has won a singles match at the Hansol Korea Open. Kim So-jung has received a wild card into the round of 32 and will try to end the drought.
The only Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tournament in South Korea will kick off Saturday at Seoul Olympic Park with the qualifying rounds. The final is set for Sept. 25.
Schiavone, No. 8 in the world, and Bartoli, runner-up at the 2007 Wimbledon, are the highest-ranked players in the field this year. Inaugurated in 2004, the tournament has attracted some big names in women's tennis including former No. 1 players Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Dinara Safina. Sharapova was the first-ever Korea Open champion and Williams took her title in 2007.
The total prize money is US$220,000.
Schiavone and Bartoli are the top two seeds. Other contenders include Julia Goerges of Germany and Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia. Both players have beaten world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki twice this season.
No South Korean player has won a singles match at the Hansol Korea Open. Kim So-jung has received a wild card into the round of 32 and will try to end the drought.
