BNP Paribas Open Women's Singles Qualifying Play Set to Begin

Women's singles qualifying play for the 2014 BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament is scheduled to begin Monday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, with 24 matches.

There are 48 players from 30 nations seeking 12 berths in the 96-player main draw. Players winning twice in qualifying will advance to the main draw.

Play will begin at 11 a.m. Admission is free.

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic is the highest ranked player in the qualifying, 67th on the Women's Tennis Association singles rankings. She will face Grace Min, one of four Americans in the qualifying draw, in the final match of the day on the new Stadium 2 court.

There are two players in the qualifying draw from Ukraine, Nadiya Kichenok and Maryna Zanevska, and two from Russia, Vera Dushevina and Alla Kudryatseva, whose military has advanced into Ukraine. Because of the arrangement of the qualifying draw, the Ukrainians cannot face the Russians.

Other players in the qualifying draw include American Allie Kiick, a daughter of Jim Kiick, a running back on the Miami Dolphins undefeated 1972 team, and 43-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan, who reached the third round of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon last year.

Men's qualifying play is scheduled to begin Tuesday, women's main draw play Wednesday and men's main draw play Thursday.

Additional information is available online at www.bnpparibasopen.com or by calling (760) 200-8400.

– City News Service.