By Saumojyoti Singha Choudhury, IANS
Bangalore : A mouth-watering semi-final clash between Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, is in the offing as both of them are pitted in the same half of the $600,000 Bangalore Open main draw that was unveiled here Sunday at Raj Bhavan, the state governor’s residence.
The top four seeds, including Jelena Jankovic, Venus and Serena and Swiss beauty Patty Schnyder will open their campaign from the second round as they have been handed bye in the opening round.
However, if the bottom half of the draw is seen as a fight between the Williams sisters, the top half promises a possible last four encounter between world No. 4 Jankovic and world No. 12 Schnyder.
Meanwhile, defending champion Yaroslava Schvedova of Russia, who is unseeded here and placed in the top half, will play Uzbek girl Akgul Amanmuradova in the first round.
India’s Shikha Uberoi, who got a wild card along with Isha Lakhani, got a tough opening round game against 18-year-old Hungarian Agnes Szavay, seeded fifth in the tournament.
But Lakhani is yet to know her opponent as she is pitted against a qualifier.
Sixth seed Sybille Bammer of Austria will face Japanese girl Akiko Morigami in the first round, while Russian girls Vera Zvonareva (seventh seed) and Maria Kirilenko (eight seed) are up against a qualifier and Zi Yan of China respectively.
Interestingly, the Williams sisters have been given a wildcard in the doubles draw and they will be up against Andreea Ehritt-Vanc of Romania and Tamarine Tanasugarn in the first round.
India’s flag in the doubles will be carried by wildcard holder Bhambri sisters, Sanaa and Ankita and will face Japanese pair of Ayumi Morita and Junri Namigata in the opener, while another Indian in the fray US-based Sunitha Rao, teaming up with Aussie Monique Adamczak, will play fourth seed Russian combination of Anastasia Rodionova and Yaroslava Shvedova.
Seeded players:
1. Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)
2. Venus Williams (US)
3. Serena Williams (US)
4. Patty Schnyder (Switzerland)
5. Agnes Szavay (Hungary)
6. Sybille Bammer (Austria)
7. Vera Zvonareva (Russia)
8. Maria Kirilenko (Russia)