Top seeds in for easy ride at Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship

Dubai: The top seeds at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship may have comparatively easy outings when the main draw gets under way at the Dubai Tennis Stadium today.

Number one seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark looks headed for a possible semifinal clash against China's Li Na, while second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova has seventh seed Pole Agnieszka Radwanska as her most likely opponent in the last four stage.

However, the top two seeds will first have to get past some gutsy opponents along the way. Wozniacki, for instance, may face Dominika Cibulkova in the second round and 13th seed Yanina Wickmayer in the quarterfinals.

On guard

Kuznetsova will have to be on guard in the second round in case Anabel Medina Garrigues does not defeat Indian crowd favourite Sania Mirza in their first round match.

If the French Open champion does go through the second round, then she may have to contend with fellow countrywoman Nadia Petrova in the quarters or against seventh seed Radwanska in the last four stages.

Defending champion Venus Williams looks to have an easy path towards the quarterfinals where her likely opponent may be Italian Francesca Schiavone. If she does manage to get past Schiavone, Venus faces the prospect of facing former champion and Olympic champion Elena Dementieva in the semifinal stage.

Former World No 1 Jelena Jankovic, who has now made Dubai her home, may run into Sybille Bammer of Austria in her second round. A quarterfinal meeting against Russian Vera Zvonareva looks likely for Jankovic.

"The tickets for the semifinals and finals of both the tournaments were sold out on the first day itself. This shows the huge popularity of this event," Colm McLoughlin, managing director of Dubai Duty Free, said yesterday at the draw.

Dubai Duty Free are the owners and organisers of the event.

Vinit Chandra, chief executive of GRB Emerging Markets at Barclays, said: "As the title sponsor, we are here to celebrate the spirit of the game. We want to re-affirm our commitment to the UAE and to the sport we love."

This year's competition marks the tenth year of the Sony Ericsson WTA Open and Justine Henin has been the only one who has won here more than once.

"We've had some fabulous champions here since 2001 and I expect this year's tournament to be no different," McLoughlin added.

Tournament director Salah Tahlak, Tennis Emirates vice-president Abdul Rahman Falaknaz and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour supervisor Donna Kelso were joined by Jankovic during the draw ceremony.

Do you think this year's championship has the best lineup? Who do you think will win the women’s title?