Maria Kirilenko is believed to have accepted an offer to play in the Malaysian Open next month.
It is believed that an offer was made to the star player during the ongoing Australian Open and she has accepted it.
And with Justine Henin being the other drawcard invited, the Malaysian Open could well outshine the numerous tennis events held in the country over the past few years.
The world no. 58, Kirilenko was unseeded at the 2010 Australian Open where in the first round she upset her friend, and former doubles partner, number 14 seed Maria Sharapova 7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4 in a 3 hour, 22 minute marathon.
In her second match, she made light work of Yvonne Meusburger, dispatching the Austrian qualifier 6-3, 6-1. She then won a close fought match against Roberta Vinci 7-5, 7-6(4).
Kirilenko had seven match points during the second set before finally winning her eighth in the tiebreak.
Kirilenko then defeated Dinara Safina in the fourth round when Safina had to retire whilst serving at 4-5 in the first set. Kirilenko will now play unseeded Zheng Jie in the quarter-finals.
It is believed that an offer was made to the star player during the ongoing Australian Open and she has accepted it.
And with Justine Henin being the other drawcard invited, the Malaysian Open could well outshine the numerous tennis events held in the country over the past few years.
The world no. 58, Kirilenko was unseeded at the 2010 Australian Open where in the first round she upset her friend, and former doubles partner, number 14 seed Maria Sharapova 7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4 in a 3 hour, 22 minute marathon.
In her second match, she made light work of Yvonne Meusburger, dispatching the Austrian qualifier 6-3, 6-1. She then won a close fought match against Roberta Vinci 7-5, 7-6(4).
Kirilenko had seven match points during the second set before finally winning her eighth in the tiebreak.
Kirilenko then defeated Dinara Safina in the fourth round when Safina had to retire whilst serving at 4-5 in the first set. Kirilenko will now play unseeded Zheng Jie in the quarter-finals.
