KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 8 S. Sivasangari has a fighting chance of reaching the final of the US$130,500 Silicon Valley Open which begins today at Redwood City in the United States.

The third-seeded Malaysian, who received a first round bye, is expected to face Egypt's world No. 26 Zeina Mickawy in the second round and American world No. 9 Amanda Sobhy in the quarter-finals.

Sivasangari, who is based in Prague under former world champion Gregory Gaultier, has beaten Sobhy in their last two encounters — in the third round of the World Championships in Chicago in May and in the Cincinnati Cup final.

If Sivasangari reaches the semis, she is expected to meet Japan's world No. 7 Satomi Watanabe.

National coach Ajaz Azmat said: "Sivasangari has done well in the last three tournaments — reaching the semi-finals of the London Classic, quarter-finals of the Egyptian Open and Qatar Classic. I'm optimistic she will well in Silicon Valley.

"Barring any upset, Sivsangari will face world No. 5 and top seed Olivia Weaver of the United States in the final."

Malaysia's world No. 20 Rachel Arnold will face compatriot world No. 36 Aifa Azman in the first round of the Silicon Valley Open.