2011 BNP Paribas Open: Wildcard Entrants in Women Singles Draw
Seven women have been given wild card entry into the main draw of the 2011 BNP Paribas Open. Organizers have granted four of the seven wild card entries to upcoming youngsters and three of them to veterans.
The four youngsters are all upcoming American players, including Coco Vandeweghe, Christina McHale, Lauren Davis, and Sloane Stephens, while, the three veterans include American Vania King, Jill Craybus and Indian Sania Mirza.
World number 93, Vandeweghe lost in the first round of qualifying draw at this year’s Brisbane International and Medibank International. The American succeeded in qualifying for the main draw of the Australian Open. However, she
lost in straight sets in the first round to Alize Cornet of France. She reached the quarterfinals at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.
McHale of USA, ranked 111th in the world, started the season at the Brisbane International where she lost to Roberta Vinci of Italy 2-6, 6-7(2) in the first round. She failed to qualify for the main round of Medibank
International. The American got a direct entry to the main draw of the Australian Open. However, she lost to Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4, 3-6, 4-6 in the opening round. Her best performance at a grand slam was at the 2009 US Open, where she reached the second
round.
Ranking well out of the top 100, local Davis is playing at her first tour level event of the season. However, granted a wildcard she did compete at the season opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open. She lost to fifth seeded Samantha
Stosur of Australia 1-6, 1-6 in the first round. The American finished 2010 as the No. 3 ranked junior in the world.
World number 180, Stephens lost to Junri Namigata of Japan in the first round of the qualifying draw at the ASB Classic Tennis Championship. The American failed to qualify for the Australian Open, as she lost to Madalina Gojnea
3-6, 6-2, 5-7 in the second round. Stephens played the 2010 BNP Paribas Open as a qualifier. She won her first round match against Lucie Hradecka 7–6 (6), 7–6 (7). However, she was beaten by Vera Zvonareva of Russia 4-6, 5-7 in the second round.
Local veteran, King started the season at the Brisbane International, where she lost to Lucie Hradecka 6-0, 4-6, 4-6 in the qualifying round. The American defeated Tamira Paszek 6-7(4), 6-0, 6-3 in the first round at the Australian
Open. However, she lost to the top seeded Dane, Caroline Wozniacki 1-6, 0-6 in the second round. King won her only WTA tour singles title at the PTT Bangkok Open in 2006. King captured the Wimbledon and US Open women doubles title in 2010.
World number 99, Craybas lost to Andrea Hlavackova 1-6, 6-3, 3-6 in the first round at the Australian Open. Last year, she lost to Marion Bartoli 2-6, 0-6 in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Indian star, Mirza lost to former world number one Justine Henin 7-5, 3-6, 1-6 in the first round at the Australian Open. She met with another early round exit when she was thrashed by Jelena Jankovic 0-6, 1-6 in the round of 16
at the Qatar Ladies Open. The Indian is a former top 30 player.
Although six locals have been given wildcards into the event, the renowned Williams sisters continue to boycott the event since a racial attack on them in 2001. The lack of a skilful American at the event probably means that the
country would once again fail to see a local titlist. Joining the top 32 seeds in the main draw, the superstars kick off the event on Sunday, March 7th.
Tags: