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GAZ DE FRANCE BUDAPEST GRAND PRIX
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The world's
women tennis players are gathering again in Budapest to match their skills against each
other on the courts of the Római Tennis Academy - Vodafone Center.
The event is the only Hungarian tournament of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, with
such players having competed here in the past as Amanda Coetzer, Sandrine
Testud, Anna Kournikova, Amélie Mauresmo, Jana Novotna, Iva Majoli or Jelena
Jankovic.
It has been elected as one of the world's top 40 tournaments and - by this year
- it has been upgraded in category as well as prize money. It has been given
its own week in the calendar - with no other world tournament held that week -,
and it will also be the opening event of the clay court season.
Based on the rankings at the time of entry, the tournament's top five seeded
players are Tathiana Garbin from Italy who
already won the Budapest Grand Prix once (in 2000); 2006 semi-finalist - and
2002 winner - Martina Müller from Germany; Russia's
Maria Kirilenko who makes her debut in Budapest
this year; Emilie Loit from France who won the
doubles title in 2006 with Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik; and Eleni Daniliidou from Greece who dropped out so early
last year. Several new entries - never seen by the Hungarian audience before -
are expected to be in the main draw, such as Nuria Vives Llagostera (Spain),
Elena Likhovtseva (Russia), or Alberta Brianti (Italy). The field of players is stronger
this year than ever before at this tournament, assuring that tennis fans will
be able to watch exciting and enjoyable matches.
The most important goal of the tournament - besides featuring international
star players - is to make it possible for Hungarian players to get closer to
the international elite by playing against the top players. Much to the delight
of Hungarian fans, they can cheer for several Hungarian players. Melinda Czink and Kyra Nagy
qualified for the main draw on their own rights, Ágnes
Szávay and Zsófia Gubacsi are awarded
wild cards, while Pálma Király can demonstrate her talent in the qualifying
stage.
Title:
GAZ DE FRANCE BUDAPEST GRAND PRIX
Prize money and ranking
points:
SINGLES
|
Prize
money in USD
|
Ranking
points
|
Winner
|
25840
|
140
|
Finalist
|
13520
|
100
|
Semifinalist
|
7105
|
65
|
Quarterfinalist
|
3740
|
35
|
2nd round
|
2030
|
20
|
1st round
|
1205
|
1
|
QUALIFICATION
|
|
|
Qualifier
|
|
8
|
3rd round
|
605
|
4
|
2nd round
|
325
|
3
|
1st round
|
185
|
1
|
DOUBLES
|
|
|
Winner
|
7620
|
140
|
Finalist
|
4020
|
100
|
Semifinalist
|
2170
|
65
|
Quarterfinalist
|
1160
|
35
|
1st round
|
600
|
1
|
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