Dubai: Former world No. 7 Patty Schnyder got her campaign off to a winning start with an emphatic 6-3, 6-0 win over Vivian Heisen of Germany as the qualifying rounds of the 19th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge (AHTC) got under way at the Habtoor Grand Resort Autograph Collection, on Saturday.

The Swiss girl, who got an entry into the qualifying based on her earlier exploits on the WTA, got the better of her German opponent in quick time. She will now await the winner of the match between Magdalena Frech of Poland and Shuko Aoyama of Japan.

Schnyder was one of the more promising players on the WTA having twice defeated a reigning world number one player in her career — Martina Hingis at the Grand Slam Cup in 1998 and Jennifer Capriati at the 2002 Family Circle Cup.

Held as a $100,000 (Dh367,000) event on the ITF Women’s Circuit, the 19th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge will witness the second round of qualifiers on Sunday before the four qualifiers are decided in time for the start of the main rounds on Monday.

The AHTC is the oldest women’s tennis tournament in the region. The tournament was first held in 1998 as a $25,000 ITF event, but was upgraded to $75,000 the following year.

Now in its 19th year, the main rounds of the AHTC will commence from Monday with the final being held on Saturday afternoon [December 18]. “We are fully geared up to host yet another exciting competition that will witness the stars of tomorrow stepping forward,” Hani Al Khafief, Chief of Officials and Technical Operations for the tournament, told Gulf News.

“And with our patron Khalaf Al Habtoor raising the prize money to $100,000 we have managed to attract an even stronger field of players that includes some of the most talented players on the circuit this year. I am confident that the very best player will be the new champion next Saturday,” he added.

The main draw consists of three players from the top-100 led by defending champion and top seed Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey, who is ranked No. 77 on the WTA.

RESULTS

Day One of qualifying rounds of 19th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge being held at the Habtoor Grand Resort Autograph Collection on Saturday: Patty Schnyder def. Vivian Heisen 6-3, 6-0; Tena Lukas def. Elena Bogdan 7-5, 6-2; Cornelia Lister def. Elyne Boeykens 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-3; Agnes Bukta def. Lina Gjorcheska 7-5, 1-6, 7-5; Valeria Savinykh def. Natela Dzalamidze 6-2, 6-4; Vivien Juhaszova def. Alicja Rosolska 6-1, 6-2; Amanda Carreras def. Aleksandra Pospelova 6-2, 6-3; Riko Sawayanagi def. Gabriela Pantuckova 6-4, 6-1; Quirine Lemoine def. Cristina Dinu 6-1, 7-5.