?Dark Horses? Ready To Cause Upsets Against Big Guns In Dubai Duty Free Women?s Open

Dubai, UAE, February 14th, 2007: Tennis fans should keep an eye on more than the top seeded players competing next week at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Such is the depth of the field of the $1.5 million event that no one can be counted out, and former champion Martina Hingis and three-time winner Justine Henin will not be taking any opponent for granted.

Upsets can come at any time, with perhaps the most famous example occurring in 2002 when Sandrine Testud surprised top seed Venus Williams on her way to a final showdown with Amelie Mauresmo. Three years later, Jelena Jankovic showed signs of things to come when she also came from nowhere and then took a set from Lindsay Davenport in the final.

The most dangerous ‘dark horse’ could be unseeded Australian Alicia Molik, who was ranked in the top 10 before being struck down by a debilitating inner ear infection that took her off the tour for a long period. Now working with inspirational coach Paul Kilderry, Molik’s big serve and heavy groundstrokes still present a formidable challenge for any opponent.

Another player still capable of springing a surprise or two is 31-year old Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama. With wins last season against opponents such as Martina Hingis, Nicole Vaidisova and Anastasia Myskina, no player will take her for granted.

China is producing an increasing number of potential champions, and the best of those is Na Li. The 24-year old reached a career-high of 16 in January, following a win over Elena Dementieva and an appearance in the Sydney semi-finals. With wins last year over Daniela Hantuchova, Patty Schnyder and Svetlana Kuznetsova, she has proved over and over that she is able to beat the best.

Dubai-based Slovenian Katerina Srebotnik is another who can look back with pride after claiming victory over opponents such as Patty Schnyder and Elena Dementieva last season, as well as Amelie Mauresmo in 2005. American Meghann Shaughnessy is also able to produce upsets of earthquake proportions, as she proved by beating Justine Henin in Miami last year.

“One of the most exciting aspects of any tournament is to see players struggle against the underdog, and the Dubai Tennis Championships has witnessed many such battles,” said Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of tournament organisers Dubai Duty Free. “With so many talented players competing this year we can look forward once again to even more thrilling matches.”

Among players watching over their shoulders for an unexpected assassin will be defending champion Justine Henin, Australian Open winner Serena Williams and recent Tokyo champion Martina Hingis.

Play begins on 19th February with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event, and continues on 26th February when Spain’s Rafael Nadal begins his title defence alongside three-time former champion Roger Federer.

The Dubai Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai