Bailey Battles Her Way Into The Brunei International

England's Tania Bailey, the former world No4 who has been beset by a series of injuries over the past three years, battled for 77 minutes to earn a place in the first round of the inaugural Women's Brunei International which gets underway in the Brunei capital Bandar Seri Begawan tomorrow.

Bailey, the 24-year-old world No19 from Stamford in Lincolnshire, twice had to fight back from behind before overcoming rising New Zealand star Tamsyn Leevey 6-9 9-6 7-9 9-4 9-5 in today's qualifying finals. Leevey, the 26-year-old world No28 from Wellington, has already notched up five Tour titles since joining WISPA just a year ago.

Bailey will face compatriot Rebecca Macree, the seventh seed, in the first round\.

Australia's world No2 Rachael Grinham, now the event favourite after the last-minute withdrawal of England's Cassie Jackman following an Achilles injury, will meet Madeline Perry, the Irish No1 who qualified after beating US National champion Latasha Khan 9-6 9-6 9-6.

Asian interest in the new $43,500 WISPA Gold event which will televised internationally as part of the Qatar Airways WISPA Grand Prix TV international programming will focus on the first round pairing of Rebecca Chiu and Nicol David. Hong Kong No1 Chiu qualified after beating Wales's Tegwen Malik 9-2 9-1 9-3 - and will face the sixth seed just a month after losing to her in the semi-finals of the Asian Championships in her home country of Malaysia.

Updated 1st round draw:
[2] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) v Shelley Kitchen (NZL)
[6] Nicol David (MAS) v [Q] Rebecca Chiu (HKG)
[4] Linda Elriani (ENG) v Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[5] Fiona Geaves (ENG) v Vicky Botwright (ENG)
[8] Jenny Tranfield (ENG) v [Q] Annelize Naude (NED)
[3] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[7] Rebecca Macree (ENG) v [Q] Tania Bailey (ENG)
[1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) v [Q] Madeline Perry (IRL)