February, 3. Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko lost her First Round match against Saori Obata (Japan) at the WTA Toray Pan Pacific open (Tier I, Prize Money: 1 300 000 $) in Tokyo, Japan in straight sets: 5-7 3-6. Vakulenko went to the Main Draw as the Lucky Loser: she lost in the final Round of qualifying to number 2 Seed Akiko Morigami of Japan.