MIDLAND, Mich. -- The qualifying rounds of the 22nd annual Dow Corning Tennis Classic are set to continue in Midland.

After getting under way Sunday, Monday’s matches are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

Officials at the Midland Community Tennis Center said admission into the tournament Monday is free.

Sixty-four players from 20 nations will be competing for the Dow Corning Tennis Classic’s $100,000 purse prize.

Main draw action for the first of the 102-stop USTA Pro Circuit Tour is Feb. 7-14.

The tournament has traditionally been a venue for rising stars, including Grand Slam Singles Champions Maria Sharapova, Anastasia Myskina, Justin Henin and Mary Pierce.

WNEM TV5 will be in Midland to interview some of the aspiring tennis players who hope to continue that trend early in their careers.

Courtesy: Joshua Rey, Tournament Press Aide

• Laura Granville, 28, hails from the Midwest and plays like it, having won the Dow Corning Tennis Classic singles title twice (2005 & 2008) and reached two other finals (2003 & 2007). Granville also partnered Abigail Spears to the Midland doubles title in 2007. The Chicago-native injured her left wrist here in 2008, missing the next 13 months on tour.
• Eleni Daniilidou, 27, is no stranger to Midland, having finished as the singles runner-up last year. The Greek reached the fourth round at the 2004 US Open, the 2003 French Open and Wimbledon in 2002. A five-time Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titleholder, Daniilidou has defeated five former world No. 1s (Seles, Capriati, Mauresmo, Henin & Safina).
• Vania King, 21, enjoyed her greatest Grand Slam singles result at the 2009 US Open, upsetting No. 15 seed Samantha Stosur to reach the third round. She also reached the 2009 French Open mixed doubles final with Marcelo Melo. King, who hails from Long Beach, Calif., is the fourth-ranked American on tour (behind S. Williams, V. Williams & Oudin).
• Nicole Vaidisova, 20, reached No. 7 in the world in May 2007. Currently on the comeback trail at No. 192, the Czech is a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist (2006 French Open & 2007 Australian Open). Vaidisova won all six of her Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles as a teenager and captured the Orange Bowl Girls’ 18s championship at age 14.
• Heather Watson, 17, burst onto the international tennis scene at the 2009 US Open by winning the Junior Girls’ singles title. Hailing from Guernsey, Great Britain, Watson won her first pro title last July at a $10K event on home soil in Frinton. The $100K Dow Corning Tennis Classic will be the biggest pro tournament of Watson’s career (in prize money).

Tune in to WNEM TV5 News beginning at 5 p.m. for a live report from Midland.

Northwood University’s Darina Berkova was the only Mid-Michigan athlete participating in the tournament. She failed to qualify after losing her match Sunday.

For ticket information, call the MCTC-989-631-6151 or go to www.dowcorningtennisclassic.com.