10/01/2007

Marion Bartoli and Maria Kirilenko set for Pattaya Women's Open

The US$170,000 Pattaya Women's Open which is supported by Pattaya City , the Chonburi Municipal Administration and the Tourism Authority of Thailand is being staged at the Dusit Resort, Pattaya from 3 - 11 February 2007.

The latest players to enter the tournament are France 's Marion Bartoli who last year broke into the world's top 20 and finished the year at No 18 after winning 3 WTA tour titles at Auckland , Tokyo and Quebec City . Bartoli who is playing for the 2 nd time in Pattaya, has fond memories of her last visit to the beach resort as she won the doubles title there in 2005 with Amanda Groenfeld. Bartoli is likely to be top seed for the Pattaya Women's Open.

Joining Bartoli in Pattaya is Russian beauty Maria Kirilenko, who as well as her good looks has had some noticeable successes on court. Her best result was in winning the Beijing title in 2005, where she beat Sharapova in the semi-final. Kirilenko's results were less impressive in 2006, nevertheless she finished the year in the top 30 and is primed to climb the rankings again this year.

Qualifying for the tournament takes place from 3 - 5 February, with the main draw running from 5 - 11 February. Tickets are on sale at 300 baht for the period 5 - 8 February and 300, 500 and 1000 baht for the period 9 - 11 February.

The tournament final will be televised "live" on ITV on Sunday 11 February. For further information, contact Pentangle Promotions Co., Ltd, Tel: 02-3823491 - 3 Fax: 02-3823490 or visit the tournament website at www.pentanglepromotions.com