Hantuchova seeking hat-trick at Thailand Open
Chinese No 1 Peng Shuai and two-time champion Daniela Hantuchova of the Czech Republic will spearhead an elite field at the US$250,000 PTT Thailand Open at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya, from February 8-15.
Peng, who turned 29 yesterday, will be the top seed in the 24th edition of what is now the country’s only top-draw professional tennis event.
Peng, currently No 22 in the world, now shoulders hopes in China following the retirement last year of two-time grand slam champion Li Na. The Chinese ace made a breakthrough at the US Open last year, reaching her first grand slam semi-final and upsetting fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Her run at Flushing Meadows only came to an end when she was forced to retire against Caroline Wozniacki in the semis due to cramp.
Peng will return to Pattaya bidding to better her best performance in the Thai resort, a semi-final berth in 2007, which lost to eventual champion Sybille Bammer of Austria.
Hantuchova, who won the title in 2011 and 2012, will be hoping to become the first player in the history to secure a hat-trick of wins in Pattaya.
The Czech player’s distinguished record features six WTA singles and nine in doubles, highlighted by the rare feat of winning every grand slam mixed doubles title.
Other star Asian players in the tournament are Kazakhstan’s rising star Zarina Diyas, who has rocketed up to No 33 in the world, Japan’s Kurumi Nara (No 44), China’s Shaui Zhang, Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova and evergreen Japanese star Kimiko DateKrumm.
The Thailand Open has also attracted several rising world stars, including 20-year-old Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who has swiftly risen to No 28, and Monica Puig of Puerto Rico, one of the most exciting young players on the WTA Tour, who hit headlines recently by winning the inaugural WTA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore.
Thailand Open qualifying is on February 8-9, with main draw matches starting on February 9 from 3pm daily.
Tickets at Bt300, Bt500, Bt800 and Bt1,200 are available by calling (02) 3113414/5 or visiting www.pentanglepromotions.com or www.thaiticketmajor.com.
