Estoril Open 2004 News and Events

Julia Schruff
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Last year's surprise Estoril Open finalist Julia Schruff will be hoping to repeat her sensational run in 2003 as she joins 31 other hopefuls attempting to qualify for this year's tournament.

Schruff, the 21-year-old German who qualified for her first WTA Tour main draw in Estoril 12 months ago before going on to defeat World No. 38 Katarina Srebotnik in the second round and eventually reach the final (l. to Magui Serna), begins her qualifying campaign against Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives.

Schruff, who began last year's tournament ranked No. 235, finished the year at No. 114. She is seeded No. 5 in the Estoril Open qualifying draw.

Top seed Silvija Talaja of Croatia meets Portuguese wild card Katia Rodrigues in the first round of qualifying, while second seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany takes on Britain's Anne Keothavong.

Other Portuguese wild cards in the qualifying draw are Catarina Ferreira, who meets No. 6 seed Virginie Razzano, Magali de Lattre, who takes on Rita Kuti Kis and Ana Nogueira, who faces Cristina Torrens Valero.

Meanwhile, two-time champion Magui Serna has withdrawn from the 2004 Estoril Open. The Spaniard has a left shoulder injury and is unable to defend her title.