Indian star Sania all set for the showpiece

Dubai: Indian star Sania Mirza is one of three players who have been given a wild card entry for this week's Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. The other two players given wild card entries are Vera Dushevina of Russia and Stefane Voegele of Switzerland.

"Sania Mirza has a huge fan following here and we have seen the stadium packed to capacity each time she has come here," said tournament director Salah Tahlak.

"Stefanie Voegele is one of the fast improving teenagers on the tour and Vera Dushevina has earned her wild card following her record of winning 14 of her 19 matches here," Tahlak added.

Incidentally, all three wild cards have been placed in the lower half of the draw with Voegele drawn to play Daniela Hantuchova and Dushevina taking on Chinese qualifier Zi Yan.

Mirza, will be playing Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the first round.