Swiss Lucky Loser Myriam Casanova will be meeting Czech Qualifier Klara Koukalova. They had their previous meeting in the final round of qualifying. Koukalova won that match 6-3 7-5. Casanova is the on of four Lucky Losers who found their way back into the tournament after players withdraw from the Proximus Diamond Games. Casanova makes her entry into a Tier II level quarterfinal since the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2002 in Filderstadt Germany.
The 21-year-old Klara Koukalova is currently ranked at No.100 just above the 18-year-old Myriam Casanova who is ranked No.104. Their last meeting before the qualifying match in Antwerp was by Casanova at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix of 2003 where the Swiss defeats the Czech 6-3 6-0 in the first round of the qualifiers.
Another Swiss, the 26-year-old Patty Schnyder will meet Italian Silvia Farina Elia (31). Schnyder was hurt during her previous match when she moved towards the net. After treatment on her upper leg she could continue the match and defeat Julia Vakulenko of Ukraine in three sets.
Farina Elia will, after reaching the second round in Antwerp, surpass $3 million in career prize money.
Patty Schnyder is leading the Head-to-Head 4-2; their last meeting was at Gold Coast 2001 semi-final where Farina Elia won in three sets. Like the players in match one of the day these players are closely ranked. Schnyder currently holds No.16, Farina Elia is ranked No.19.
The 25-year-old Czech Denisa Chladkova will meet Karolina Sprem of Croatia for the second time on the Tour. The 19-year-old Sprem is making her debut at the Proximus Diamond Games and reached her career high rank at No. 45. Chladkova is ranked at No. 56 and will become the 139th member of the Million Dollar Club next week after collecting this week’s paycheck. Sprem is leading the Head-to Head after winning the 2003 Vienna quarterfinals 6-3 6-2.
Local heroine and only remaining top ten player Kim Clijsters from Belgium will meet the veteran Magdalena Maleeva from Bulgaria. Both players played each other four times before with Clijsters always ending up as the winner. The last time they competed Clijsters won in three sets, after Maleeva had won the first set with a single bagel 0-6 6-2 6-1 at the 2003 Roland Garros 4th round.
The 28-year-old from the famous Maleeva tennis family reached the Tokyo Toray Pan Pacific final this year losing it against Lindsay Davenport. Kim Clijsters, also from a sport-loving family with dad Leo being ex-professional football player and a mum Els as ex Belgian top gymnast, won the indoors tournament in Paris and was runner up in the Australian Open final this year.
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