The big names take this week off as Top 10ers
Anna Chakvetadze of Russia and
Daniela Hantuchova of the Slovak Republic are the top seeds at the Generali Ladies
Linz.
Other seeded players are France's
Marion Bartoli and
Tatiana Golovin, Russia's
Dinara Safina, Czech
Nicole Vaidisova, Swiss
Patty Schnyder and Austria's
Sybille Bammer.
Wildcards for the event went to Italian
Flavia Pennetta and Austrians Yvonne Meusberger and Melanie Klaffner.
The lone event this week on the WTA Tour, Linz misses the prestige of last year's field where top-seeded
Maria Sharapova defeated Russian countrywoman and No. 2 seed
Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-2 in the final. Sharapova withdrew from this year's event citing a shoulder injury.
"I am very disappointed not to be able to play in the Generali Ladies Linz but my shoulder injury is still not completely healed," Sharapova said. "I will do anything to get fit again as quickly as possible. I hope that I will be able to play again in Linz in the future."
