Date:07/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/07/stories/2007120759982500.htm

Sport - Tennis

Top stars for JB Group Classic

Chennai: Four of the top-10 ranked players on the WTA Tour will headline the field at the JB Group Classic tennis tournament to be held at Hong Kong in the first week of January. Vying for top honours at one of the leading exhibition tournaments, which also doubles up as a warm-up event for the season’s first Grand Slam — the Australian Open — will be the likes of French Open finalist and World No. 4 Ana Ivanovic, Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and Russian Maria Sharapova, the World No. 5.

Rounding up the field of eight players are Bank of the West Classic champion Anna Chakvetadze, World No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova, No. 11 Elena Dementieva, local favourite Peng Shuai and Caroline Wozniacki, who had made her first appearance at this tournament last year.

The eight players will compete in the main draw with the four winners advancing to the JB Gold group and losers into the JB Silver group. It will follow a similar format as in previous years with winners coming from both the Gold and Silver groups. The format is such that fans get to see each player at least twice.

The highlights of the first round are Venus Williams squaring off against Peng Shuai, Ivanovic taking on former Hong Kong champion Dementieva while Sharapova will be challenged by Wozniacki.

Talking about the tournament in a media release, Mr. Bhupen Surani, chairman JB Group, the title sponsor, said, “This is a glittering line-up and promises to be a great start.”