Tunisian Selima Sfar, the main attraction of this year's Al Habtoor Challenge, considering her tremendous show at the inaugural Sanex WTA Dubai Open in February is absolutely serious on giving it a full hearted try for a top 50 listing.

"Top 100, I think I should be there now with this second round entry. Top 50, I am serious. In fact after the Dubai event earlier, I did not think back but went about with my game and event scheduling as serious as ever," said Selima who will turn 24 this July.

The lithe Tunisian star who resides in Biarritz, France near the Spanish border and practises regularly with French Tour veteran NathalieTauziat, also trains in London.

Selima's next stop is the Estoril, Portugal WTA leg, a curtain raiser on clay for the French Open.

"It is a big event after Miami where I did not doo well due to a back problem. The Habtoor is a small event without the big crowd factor but it has its plus points, Selima continued, "Oh yes I love big crowds. It makes so much of a difference in tight matches.

This was evident the way she put up a memorable performance in front of a near capacity crowd at the Dubai Tennis Stadium before she was edged out in the Dubai Open quarterfinal thriller against the player she calls both friend and professor - Nathalie Tauziat.

"I was in a bit of a hurry to wrap up the opening games of the second set. Nervous, yes, but I managed to go foward more and it helped me finally," she said.

Selima comes from a family of five. Her parents are doctors practising back in Tunisia. Her brother a former Arab U-14 champion in the game and her 28-year-old sister who is married also live in Tunisa.

Nathalie is certainly one of Selima's main sources of encouragement and inpsiration in her career. She not only practises with the 'professor' on a regular basis but also seeks advice on the finer points almost everyday.

To date, Selima has earnings of over $70,000 on the Tour, of which $28,000 have come from her splendid 2000 show.

Selima left Tunis at the age of 13 to live and train with Nathalie. She is coached by Henri Dument.