Tahlak says field is still so strong

Dubai : The Barclays Dubai Women's Open will not lose any of its sheen despite losing the world's top two players, tournament director Salah Tahlak said yesterday.

Russian Dinara Safina, runner-up in 2006, announced last week that she was withdrawing from the Dubai tournament to treat her back injury.

Top-ranked Serena Williams also pulled out citing a leg injury.

World No 3 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark will now be the top seed followed by Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Serbian Ana Ivanovic, currently ranked No 23, may also looks doubtful after complaining of shoulder pain during the Fed Cup.

But Tahlak told Gulf News that "we still have a strong field. We have 16 of the top 20 players here, so we are assured of some really good matches.

"We've put in a lot of hard work in publicising this tournament. It's a pity that two of our top players had to opt out. It would have been lovely to have both the Williams and Safina. But we still have some of the finest players."