08 October 2003

The Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge, which gets underway at the Metropolitan Resort and Beach Club next week, will sport its best ever line-up in its six-year history.

Led by 41st ranked Petra Mandula of Hungary, there are an additional seven players from the top 100 participating in the event.

"We are shocked with the acceptance list of players for this tournament," admitted Hani El Khafief, tournament director at a press briefing attended by representatives of the sponsors. However, the organisers said there were no plans to upgrade the event.

"Why should we upgrade it?," said Al Khafief. "We don't see any reason to do so, especially when so many top players have confirmed their participation for such a comparatively small tournament.

"Besides, we already have one top-class WTA tournament in Dubai. Why add another one?" he stressed. "Each tournament has a beauty of its own. If we opt for a second WTA Tour event, then we might get the feeling of being saturated, and we want to avoid this."

The Al Habtoor Challenge was scheduled to be held in April but the SARS scare followed by the tension in Iraq forced its postponment to October 13-19.

"It's like a blessing in disguise," El Khafief said with a smile. "We couldn't have asked for a better setting and timing of the event."

There is just one WTA tournament (a $160,000 event in Switzerland) taking place next week. The Metropolitan Resort and Beach Club tennis facility has been fitted with a a brand new court, while the two adjoining courts have been upgraded.

With its total prize fund of $75,000, Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge is classified as the highest event on the ITF Women's circuit.

At a glance

• Top players: Petra Mandula (40); Emmanuelle Gagliardi (59); Angelique Widjaja (76); Arantxa Parra-Santoja (86); Tathiana Garbin (89); Lubomira Kurhajcova (94); Barbara Rittner (96); Antonella Serra Zanetti (97); Tatiana Poutchek (113); Aniko Kapros (127); Henrieta Nagyova (172).
• Qualifiers: October 11-13
• Main draw: October 13-19
• Prize money: $75,000
• Defending champion: Angelique Widjaja (Indonesia)
• Tournament director: Hani El Khafief
• ITF Circuit Director: Mrs. Jane Harvey
• Sponsors: HSBC Bank, AMC Advertising, MMI, A & E, Busimatic, Crystal Gallery, Desert Springs, Dubai Sports Channel, Dunlop, Gulf Arena, Johnson Diversery, Diamond Lease, Dubai FM, Czech Airline, Pepsi, Sun and Sand Sports LLC.

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