Larsson is top seed at 18th Tashkent Open
24 September 2016
- Close encounters on cards
By Tashkent Open 2016 Media Team.
Tashkent , September 24 : World No 45 Johanna Larsson of Sweden will lead the rankings list at the 18th Tashkent Open WTA Championships which gets underway at the Olympic Tennis Complex here on Monday.
Larsson will be followed by Kirsten Flipkens Belgium (58) , Cagla Buukakcay (Turkey)(64) , current title holder Nao Hibino (Japan) (76) , Kurumi Nara (Japan) (78) , Winner of the Guangzhou event last week Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) (80) , Winner of the 2008 event here Sorena Cirstea ( Romania ) (85) , and Naomi Broady (Great Britian) (87)
The draws to the 18th edition of the Tashkent Open were made here by WTA supervisor Kerrilyn Cramer , Valeriy Lim Tournament Director , Andrey Kornilov Referee alongwith wildcards Komola Umarova and Dayana Yastremska .
In the lots drawn today if seeds move into the last eight stage without hiccups the quarterfinal line up would see Larsson take on former winner here and seventh seeded Sorana Cirstea , Cagla Buyukakcay seeded third will play Naomi Broady Britain in the quarterfinals in the top half
In the lower half second seeded Kirsten Flipkens Belgium may play 5th seeded Kurumi Nara of Japan seeded , while title holder Nao Hibino ranked fourth may clash with winner of Guangzhou WTA last week sixth seeded Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine.
However some close opening matches could spoil the lineup , top seed Larsson Sweden will take on Dennisa Allertova of Czech Republic ranked 89 in a tough opening round while Cirstea will have to tackle a tricky opener as she takes on former French open winner and world ranked 7 Franseca Shiavone of Italy in the opener.
Buyukakcay has been drawn to play Wildcard Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine in the opener , while Broady has been drawn to play Amra Sadikovis of Switzerland. Last year's winner Nao Hibino will take on wildcard and Uzbek junior Komola Umarova in her opening match , while Lesia Tsurenko takes on Evegeniya Rodina who could be another close first round encounters
Speaking on the draw WTA Supervisor Kerrilyn Cramer Said " it's a even field this year , it's very competitive and close tournament. Players are even at this level , last year Hibino who was outside 100 came and won the event so it's a open tournament
She also Complimented the professional running of the Tashkent Open and termed t as one of the popular events with players on the WTA tour ." The event has been on calendar for long time and people here are prepared and know their jobs , I'm looking forward to a great event .
Cramer added " I'm also truly impressed with the efforts of the Uzbekistan tennis Federation in converting the match into hard courts from clay courts in just 5 days" .
Speaking on the occasion Uzbekistan's upcoming junior Komola Umarova who has been awarded the wildcard said " it's very special to play WTA event and at this level . I will give my best said Komola who is drawn to play Nao Hobino in the opener. Dayana Yastremska added , it's a pleasure to play my second WTA and will try to give a good account about myself ,
Tournament Director Valeriy Lim said " The event was one of toughest in the last 18 years , as the cutoff is very high , also we have 16 top 100 players in the draw which will ensure close encounters " he was working with a very professional team and said he was looking forward to ensure another successful edition of the Tashkent Open this year.
Following are the seeds
1. Johanna Larsson Sweden (45) 2 Kirsten Flipkens Belgium (58) , 3. Cagla Buyukakcay ( Turkey)(64) 4. Nao Hibino (Jpn) (76) 5. Kurumi Nara (Jpn) (78) , 6 Lesia Tsurenko (Ukr) (80) 7. Sorena Cirstea ( Rou) (85) , 8. Naomi Broady (Gbr) (87)
