Top players advance as Bondarenko one win away from main draw entry

The upper crust of seeded players advanced to the next stages of the qualifying rounds on the opening day of the 25th Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge being played at the Habtoor Grand Resort, on Sunday.

Top-seeded Anastasia Zolotareva eased her way to a 6-3, 6-3 win against Nina Danisova, while second seed Anastasia Kulikova had it easy with a 5-7, 6-3, 10-6 lop-sided win over Alena Fomina-Klotz.

China’s Xiaodi You, seeded No. 3, did well to advance with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Finland’s Laura Hietaranta and fourth seed Emina Bektas humbled Turkey’s Seven Oral 6-0, 6-1.

Former champion Kateryna Bondarenko, who won the title here in 2006, had the easiest of outings as she got a walkover from Linda Klimovicova, while fifth seed Cristina Dinu advanced after her Australian opponent Tina Nadine Smith retired after feeling unwell on court.

The second round of qualifying will continue from 10am on Monday along with a few matches from the main rounds.