26 December 2002 10:25
Ten: Navratilova brings star power to Uncle Tobys Hardcourts
GOLD COAST, Dec 26 AAP - Swiss star Patty Schnyder will be the player to beat but tennis legend Martina Navratilova
is the one most will come to watch when the Uncle Tobys Hardcourt tennis tournament gets underway here on Sunday.
Navratilova, 46, will partner 17-year-old former world junior champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in doubles. A
confident Navratilova. who became the oldest player to win a WTA tour doubles title earlier this year in Madrid, has
told organisers to expect her to still be playing on finals day at Royal Pines. "To have one of the greatest ever
players competing in this tournament is a huge coup," tournament director Liz Smylie said. The arrival of
Navratilova goes some way to alleviating a weakened event. Last year's singles winner Venus Williams will not be
returning and neither will 2001 champion Justine Henin of Belgium. However, 1999 champion and world No.15 Schnyder will
be trying to win a second title and is likely to be named No.1 seed at the draw on Saturday. Japan's Ai Sugiyama,
who won in 1998, has also returned. French star Nathalie Dechy, 1997 French Open champion Iva Majoli of Croatia, Russian
Elena Likhovtseva, American Meghann Shaughnessy, Russian Elena Bovina, and Austrian Barbara Schett are also expected on
the Gold Coast. Playing with a wild card, Navratilova's doubles partner Kuznetsova is a major threat in the singles
having won in Bali and Helsinki this year. Queenslander Nicole Pratt helms Australia's charge. The 29-year-old took
her world ranking to a career high 35 this year with the help of two semifinal appearances at Hobart and Birmingham.
Pratt is focused on a push into the top-10 in 2003 by opening the year with a strong performance at Royal Pines.
"I've had to take some time off to treat an injury so I'm really looking forward to starting next
year's campaign under 'at home' conditions on the Gold Coast," Pratt said. "When you travel
overseas so much to compete it's fantastic to play in front of a home crowd." The only other Australian
guaranteed a place in main draw is promising Gold Coast 18-year-old Samantha Stosur who has been given a wild card.
Stosur said she intended to treat the tournament as another day at the office. "I intend to enjoy it," she
said. Uncle Tobys has signed a three year sponsorship deal with the tournament which is now in its seventh year. Seats
are still available for the main draw from December 29 to January 4. Qualifying begins tomorrow. AAP dp/md
[AIW [Asia Africa Intelligence Wire]] |
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