Press releases

MINSK, 20 May (BelTA) – Belarus number one Victoria Azarenka, ranked 5^th in the world, will face World No.75 Karin Knapp of Italy in the first round of the French Open, BelTA has learned.

In 2007 the two players faced each other at the start of the French championship, with the Italian celebrating a 6-1,6-1 victory. Victoria Azarenka will make her 10^th appearance at Roland Garros. Her best achievement is reaching the semifinal in 2013 where she lost to Maria Sharapova. In the last season the Belarusian completed her performance in the third round, losing to world number one Serena Williams.

Olga Govortsova (104^th in the world) will start her campaign against World No.51 Monica Puig of Puerto Rico. Aleksandra Sasnovich (World No.100) will face one of the qualifiers.

The tournament begins on 22 May and will last through 5 June. Winners of this year’s French Open singles will receive a cheque for €2 million after a total prize pot of more than €32 million was announced for the 2016 tournament. Runner-ups will get €1 million.