Another Aussie set to enter Dubai's main draw

Casey Dellacqua is just one match away from gaining a place in the main draw of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after claiming a stunning 6-0 6-3 victory over Japan’s Ayumi Morita on Sunday.

The Aussie took just 47 minutes to reach the final qualifying round, earning two thirds of the points in the match and facing just one break point.

Dellacqua caused a sensation in her homeland in 2008 when she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open by beating former champion Amelie Mauresmo, but soon after that triumph her momentum was halted by injury. 

She needed shoulder surgery early in 2009, and after competing in Dubai she was unable to play for the rest of the season. Then, soon after making her comeback in 2010, she suffered a crippling foot injury that once again kept her off the tour for many months.

She made yet another comeback in 2011 with spectacular success, winning no less than seven ITF singles titles including a record-breaking six in a row, plus six doubles titles.

Such is the strength of the $2 million WTA Premier event that even a former finalist is having to fight her way through qualifying.

Virginie Razzano, who reached the 2009 final by beating two top-five opponents before falling to Venus Williams, began her bid for a place in the main draw by beating Kristina Barrois 6-2 4-6 6-2.  

Among other winners on Sunday were Simona Halep, who overwhelmed Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-1 6-1, and Anastasia Rodionova, who upset eighth qualifying seed Tamira Paszek 6-4 6-4.

Main draw play begins on Monday and continues until Saturday with a spectacular field that includes three reigning Grand Slam champions in Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova and Samantha Stosur, as well as Dubai defending champion Caroline Wozniacki.

Play then continues on February 27 with the ATP tournament featuring eight of the world’s top 10, including reigning Dubai, Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, four-time winner Roger Federer, sensational Scot Andy Murray, charismatic Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and recent Montpellier winner Tomas Berdych.

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

Tickets for the event are available from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud which opens from 9am to 9pm daily. Grandstand tickets can also be bought online at https://www.timeouttickets.com/. For further information about tickets, prices and tournaments visit https://www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com/ or phone the call centre on +971 4 358 9797.