The US$250,000 PTT Thailand Open, WTA professional tennis tournament enters its 24th year on the calendar with a parade of stars headed by two times champion Daniela Hantuchova and a field that includes for the first time all the top Asian stars ranked in the top 100.
The winner of the tournament, which will be played at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya from 08-15 February takes home a cheque for US$43,000 and 280 ranking points.
Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova will be aiming for a hat-trick of tournament victories.
Daniela Hantuchova, who won the tournament in 2011and 2012, is returning to Pattaya in an attempt to become the first player in the history of the event to secure a hat-trick of wins. Hantuchova’s distinguished record includes 6 WTA singles and 9 doubles titles and also includes the rare feat of winning all 4 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.
Lining-up against her will be the cream of Asia’s women players with every Asian player ranked inside the top 100 entering the tournament. The Asian challenge is spearheaded by Shaui Peng, currently ranked No 21 in the world. Her best achievement in 2014 was a semi-final finish at the US Open. Last year she became the first Chinese player to reach No 1 in the world, which she achieved in the doubles ranking after winning the French Open.
Other notable Asian players in the tournament are Kazakhstan’s rising star Zarina Diyas who has rocketed up to No 33 in the world rankings, Japan’s Kurumi Nara ranked at No 44, China’s Shaui Zhang, Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova and evergreen Japanese star Kimiko Date-Krumm.
Aside from the Asian stars the tournament has attracted several of the tour’s rising talents including 20 year old Elina Svitolina from Ukraine who has swiftly risen to No 28 in the world and Monica Puig of Puerto Rico, one of the most exciting young players on the WTA Tour who most recently won the inaugural WTA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore.
China’s Shaui Peng will spearhead the Asian challenge.
The 2015 PTT Thailand Open will commence with the qualifying rounds on 8-9 February, with main draw matches starting on 9 February and play starting from 15.00 daily until Friday 13 February. For the final 2 days of the tournament, Saturday 14 February and Sunday 15 February, matches will start from 16.00.
Tickets are priced at 300, 500, 800 and 1,200 baht throughout the week. For more information on the tournament and tickets, contact Pentangle Promotions Co., Ltd at Tel: 02-3113414/5 or via the website at www. pentanglepromotions.com. Tickets are also available at Thaiticketmajor on 02-262-3456, website www. thaiticketmajor.com.
