Ivanovic, Kirilenko head Pattaya Open
Former World No 1 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Russia's Maria Kirilenko will be the top two seeds at the US$235,000 PTT Pattaya Open, at the seaside city's Dusit Thani Hotel from January 27 to February 3.
Top seed Ivanovic, making her second appearance in Pattaya, is currently ranked No 13 in the world and has 11 WTA titles to her name. Second seed Kirilenko is ranked world No 14 and was a beaten finalist in Pattaya last year. Seeded No 3 is Hsieh Su-wei from Taiwan, who finished 2012 ranked No 25 on the back of two WTA titles, in Kuala Lumpur and Guangzhou. She also reached the semi-finals in Pattaya last year, where she was beaten by eventual champion Daniela Hantuchova.
Fourth seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania was also a semi-finalist last year, and finished the year ranked No 27. Germany’s Sabine Lisicki is seeded 5, with British contenders Heather Watson and Laura Robson seeded 6 and 8 respectively. Sandwiched between them is 7th seed Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.
Two previous Thailand champions have joined the tournament – Shahar Peer who won the Pattaya title in 2006 and Vania King who won the PTT Bangkok Open in 2007.
The tournament will commence with qualifying rounds on January 27 and 28, with main-draw matches starting on January 28 from 3pm daily.
For tickets and information, call (02) 311 3414/5 or visit www.PentanglePromotions.com.
The PTT Pattaya Open is powered by PTT, Pattaya City, Sports Authority of Thailand, Chon Buri Province, Chang Drinking Water, Peak Sporting Goods, Jetstar, Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya, Wilson Sporting Goods, Nation Multimedia Group, Yonex, TOT, Philips Lighting, Tez Tour and Bangkok Pattaya Hospital.
