Dubai: Jana Cepelova will return to defend her singles title at the 17th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge (AHTC), to be held at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa, from November 10-15.
Cepelova was one of the early entries on the first list of players who have shown an interest in this annual $75,000 (Dhs 275,000) tournament on the ITF Women’s Circuit.
ITF Supervisor Hani Al Khafief confirmed that at least seven top-100 players have so far confirmed their presence for the annual event, while a former top-10 player Nicole Vaidisova — who is making her comeback on the tour — has requested for a wild card.
“There are so many things we can be proud about this year. For one, the field remains as strong as always and Nicole [Vaidisova] who had announced her retirement in March 2010 has asked for a wild card. This only shows how much top players believe in using this tournament in their preparations for the new season,” Al Khafief told Gulf News.
Also figuring on the initial list of players are two former champions: 2012 winner Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan along with Vitalia Diatchenko, who triumphed in 2008.
Brainchild of Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Habtoor Group of Companies, the annual competition is run along the slogan “Bringing to Dubai today the stars of tomorrow”. Statistics show that as many as 72 of the current top-100 players have participated in this tournament at some point during its 16-year history.
The tournament is held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry with support from Tennis Emirates.
“We are excited with the response to the tournament so far. The cut-off in the singles is currently at No. 123 and that is quite high. I only hope there are no dropouts closer to the date of sign-in. We are confident of yet another strong field as this tournament has established itself as one of the favourites on the circuit,” Al Khafief said.
The courts at the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa have been resurfaced and the official hotel has been refurbished well in time for the tournament. The main draw will get under way on November 10 and both the singles and doubles finals will be played on November 15.
