This tournament was originally scheduled as a 75K event, and therefore attracted a strong field, before financial problems threatened a cancellation, and it has ended up as a 50K event. Katie O'Brien should be seeded, but may struggle coming from South African hard courts. Meanwhile in qualifying Anna Smith's woeful singles year continues:
QR1 (7)Marija Mirkovic (AUS) d. Anna Smith (GBR) 6-1 6-4