Media Release: Tuesday, February 20, 2007

QUARTER-FINALS BROUGHT FORWARD

The highly anticipated women’s singles quarter-final matches at this year’s ABN AMRO Australian Open will be now be played at 1.00pm tomorrow (21-2).

Originally scheduled for 5.00pm, the matches have been moved forward to accommodate clashes in the playing schedule.

To date the women – including No. 1 seed Siti Zalina Ahmad and Aussie ace Lynsey Armitage – have captivated crowds as the 128-player field was whittled down to eight.

Things will be even hotter on the greens tomorrow as the remaining chances attempt to move into the semi-final stage.

Crowds are continuing to build at Darebin International Sports Centre and packed stands are expected for the women’s quarter-finals.

Ahmad and eighth seed Amy Monkhouse from England will clash tomorrow while giant killer Samantha Warren, the Geelong schoolgirl, will be out to continue her dream run when she meets New Zealand’s Jan Khan.

Warren, 17, has been the story of the tournament to date and will have a vocal home crowd behind her tomorrow.

Those who move through the quarter-finals will play the next stage of the event on Friday (23-2) before the final, to be televised live on ABC TV, from 2.00pm Saturday.