10 December 2005
Tongsalee is top seed for qualifying rounds
by Alaric Golmes - Gulf News
Dubai: Thailand's Napaporn Tongsalee will head an ambitious field in the singles qualifying of the 7th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge that gets under way today at the Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa.
Napaporn, ranked 252 has been given a first round bye for the qualifiers.
Ekaterina Dzehalevich of Belarus is the second seed in the qualifiers, while Russia's Yaroslava Shvedova is the third seed.
The top four field is completed by Thailand's Montinee Tangphong.
But starting the qualifying rounds this year will be India's Punam Reddy with a match against Yana Levchenko of Ukraine.
At the same time, Alana Van Der Vort will take on another Indian, Prerna-Mythri Appineni on Court No.2.
Organisers have scheduled 11 matches on the opening day of the qualifiers.
"We are pleased with the response we have received for the qualifiers," stated Hani El Khafief, Tournament Manager for the 7th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge.
The tournament is sponsored by HSBC Bank, Pepsi, Johnson Diversey, Crystal Gallery, Gulf Arena and Diamond Lease among a host of others.
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