Al Habtoor Tennis: Schnyder qualifies, Al Nabhani gets wildcard

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  • It's never too late: Patty Schnyder.

    Former world No7 Patty Schnyder flew under the rader and into the main draw of the Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge after claiming a third victory in qualifying on Monday in Dubai.

    The 37-year-old Swiss has launched an astonishing comeback to tennis last season, after initially hanging up her racquet mid-2011.

    Schnyder, who won 11 WTA titles between 1996 and 2008 and reached the semi-finals of the 2004  Australian Open, is in unfamiliar territory, having to fight her way through qualifying rounds on the ITF circuit – a stark contrast to her days when she was regularly making the second week at the majors.

    The Basel-born veteran lefty beat 23-year-old Hungarian Agnes Bukta yesterday at the $100k tournament at the Habtoor Grand hotel 2-6, 6-4, 2-6 to qualify for the main draw. Schnyder returned to the pro circuit in July 2015 and has since won two $10k ITF titles. She is up to No298 in the rankings.

    She retired from tennis five years ago due to frustration and burn-out and decided to come back because she found herself enjoying the matches she was playing in the Swiss league and was craving competition.

    Schynder opens her main draw campaign on Tuesday against 20-year-old Austria Barbara Haas.

    Trailblazer: Fatma Al Nabhani.

    Trailblazer: Fatma Al Nabhani.

    Also in action on Tuesday is Omani wildcard Fatma Al Nabhani, who is hoping to finish her season on a high, having been given the chance to compete at a $100k-level tournament.

    “I’m happy that I got the opportunity to play in the main draw and thank you to Mr Khalaf Al Habtoor and the organisation for this opportunity,” the 25-year-old Al Nabhani told Sport360.

    “Of course it’s something big, it’s a $100k+H (hospitality) so I’m happy to playing it.”

    Al Nabhani, the first professional female tennis player to emerge from the Gulf region, is currently ranked 447 in the world and is coming off a decent stretch of results, having made two $10k finals in Morocco as well as taking the singles and team titles at the Arab Championship.

    “My season wasn’t as good as last year but I got some good results in the end of the year, especially in Morocco,” she said.

    “Winning the Arab team event was the big surprise, I never saw it coming. I’m really proud that we won the team title because it’s the first time a GCC country wins it at the Arab Championship, especially that we beat Morocco and Tunisia, so that was huge. So things have picked up towards the end of the year.”

    Al Nabhani opens her campaign against Dutch world No202 Quirine Lemoine.

    “I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s match, I played her in a final in Bahrain and I lost a close one in the final set. It’s my first tournament on hard court after playing on clay for a month, so hopefully it goes well,” said Al Nabhani.

    This is the 19th edition of the Habtoor Tennis Challenge. It was upgraded from a $75k to $100k+H this year.

    Tuesday’s schedule
    Court 1 (10:00 start)
    Sabina Sharipova (UZB) v Jana Fett (CRO)
    Fatma Al Nabhani (OMA) v Quirine Lemoine (NED)
    Not Before 12:30
    Ivana Jorovic (SRB) v Anastasiya Vasylyeva (UKR)
    Nina Stojanovic (SRB) v Elitsa Kostova (BUL)

    Court 2 (10:00 start)
    Lesley Kerkhove (NED) v Viktoria Kamenskaya (RUS)
    Viktoriya Tomova (BUL) v Su-Wei HSIEH (TPE x5)
    Not Before 12:30
    Rebecca Sramkova (SVK x6) v Tadeja MAJERIC (SLO)
    Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x7) v Dalma Galfi (HUN)

    Court 3 (10:00 start)
    Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR x1) v Ksenia Pervak (RUS)
    Nigina Abduraimova (UZB) v Mandy Minella (LUX x4)
    Not Before 15:00
    Evgeniya Rodina (RUS x3) v Mona Barthel (GER)
    Barbara Haas (AUT) v Patty Schnyder (SUI)

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