Georgie Stoop is scheduled to make her return to action in the Belarussian capital, needing a win or two to return to the top 200, but Elena Baltacha was a late withdrawal. British interest in qualifying centres on Anna Smith, who starts off against the reigning French Open Junior champion:
(3)Kristina Antoniychuk (UKR) v Syna Kayser (GER) Marta Sirotkina (RUS) v Anna Brazhnikova (SWE) Nadejda Guskova (RUS) v (wc)Viktoria Yemialyanava (BLR) Anna Smith (GBR) v (8)Simona Halep (ROU)
Kustova was in the top 200 at the start of the year, when she lost to Anne and Katie in Australia, but appears to be concentrating more on doubles now. Talking of which....
Doubles R1:
Sevastova/Stoop (LAT/GBR) v (wc)Kotelnikova/Teterina (RUS/BLR) (3)Diatchenko/Kondratieva (RUS) v Khomyk/Zharkova (UKR/RUS)
Closer than i was expecting but maybe a bit of rust from georgie.
Rodina will be tough. She is a good player, but now that Georgie is a top 200 player to move up to the next stage she needs to beat the likes of Rodina.
