WTA players to compete in Hansol Korea Open

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Sports

Hangzhou Asian Games

Tue, October 3, 2023 | 07:07

WTA players to compete in Hansol Korea Open

Posted : 2011-09-16 17:07

Updated : 2011-09-16 17:07

World No. 8 Francesca Schiavone, left, of Italy and No. 10 Marion Bartoli of France are the highest ranked participants in the Hansol Korea Open. The tournament preliminary round begins today and the final is scheduled for Sept. 25. / Courtesy of Korea Tennis Association

By Yoon Chul

The nation’s lone WTA Tour event, the Hansol Korea Open begins Saturday.

Local fans will be able to see 32 of the world’s top tennis players compete for the $220,000 prize money through Sept. 25 at Seoul Olympic Park.

Among the participants, 13 players are ranked within the world top 50.

“This is definitely the best event among the same-class competitions,” said Lee Jin-soo, director of the tournament in a statement.

World No. 8 Francesca Schiavone of Italy and world No. 10 Marion Bartoli of France are the strongest competitors for the trophy.

Bartoli’s Schiavone jinx started in 2003. She turned professional in 2000, and reached her first WTA Tour semifinal in the 2003 Canberra Women’s Classic. But Schiavone knocked the French player out.

In this year’s French Open semifinal, Bartoli again lost to Schiavone despite the home fans’ enthusiastic support and she will be seeking revenge.

Julia Goerges of Germany, ranked 21st, and Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, 22nd, could pose the toughest challenge for the top 10 players.

Goerges joined top 50 for the first time last season, and despite not winning a title this season enhanced her ranking steadily, beating current world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark twice.

The domestic fans also expect to see the first Koreans to advance to the second round.

Kim So-jung plays from the first round without competing in the preliminaries thanks to a wild card from the organization.

With Kim other four Koreans including Lee Jin-ah will compete in the qualifying stage to acquire one of four spots.

Since the Hansol Korea Open started in 2004, many world stars have appeared. Current world No. 2 Maria Sharapova of Russia, last year’s highest earner among women athletes in the world, won in 2004. Former world No. 1 Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Martina Hingis as well as Wozniacki have also competed previously.

For the spectators the Korea Tennis Association and Hansol — the event’s main sponsor — will also prepare other sideline events.

There will be a tennis clinic for amateur players and a tournament for children less than eight years old.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr