Dubois and Bester Receive Wildcards for Miami

March 14, 2008

While the Pacific Life Open is just underway in Indian Wells, California, there are at least two Canadian players who are looking ahead to the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Florida beginning March 26, 2008. It was announced that Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Quebec and Philip Bester of Vancouver, British Columbia were awarded wildcards into the high-profile tournament.

Dubois, ranked No. 102 on the Sony Ericsson WTA, was eliminated in the first round of qualifying at the Pacific Life Open this week. Fortunately, she will not have to worry about going through the same process in Miami as she was given direct entry into the women’s main draw along with other hopefuls like Michelle Larcher de Brito (Portugal) and Sabine Lisicki (Germany).

Bester, who is currently making his way through the National Bank Futures circuit in Quebec, was granted a wildcard spot in the men’s singles qualifying draw. Bester will have to prove he belongs in the main draw by competing hard in the qualies against other wildcard recipients such as Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis, the world’s top junior male, and American Ryan Sweeting.

Also planning on joining the competition in Miami are Aleksandra Wozniak (Blainville, Quebec), Frederic Niemeyer (Sherbrooke, Quebec), Daniel Nestor (Toronto) and Frank Dancevic (Niagara Falls, Ontario).