Serena Returns, Henin-Hardenne Skips in Miami - WTA Draw Breakdown

Only five of the Top 10 players are posting this week at the WTA stop in Miami, with the top players decimated by injury and...well, just not wanting to play.

Although Miami is one of the WTA's premier events, world No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne said she would take a pass after winning Indian Wells last week, and Lindsay Davenport says she has never been too fond of Miami and will also skip the event.

"You know, you have to make choice in your life, in your career," Henin-Hardenne said. "For me it's a choice. Two big tournaments in a row, I think it's a little bit too much."

Henin-Hardenne pointed also to the tight WTA calendar scheduling, saying she would rather take the two weeks off and practice on clay for the Amelia Island (Florida) stop, directly following Miami.

Serena Williams has been elevated to the top seed for the event, despite not playing a match in more than eight months and slipping to No. 6 in the rankings, due to the WTA invoking "special ranking status" for the defending champion. Sister Venus (not ranked in the Top 10) is likewise seeded No. 2, and Kim Clijsters withdrew from the event with an injured wrist.

"All day long I think about (returning)," Serena said. "I'm really excited to get out there and play. I'm more excited than everyone else. As excited as everyone else is, I'm 10 times more excited."

Serena was not so excited after she saw her draw section, which features a handful of hungry young Russians at the top of their respective games.

Other injury pull-outs from Miami were Elena Bovina (continuing left foot injury), Maria Elena Camerin (right shoulder strain), Maja Matevzic (continuing left wrist injury), and Chanda Rubin (left knee inflammation). Singles main draw wildcards for the event were awarded to Tatiana Golovin (FRA), Angela Haynes (USA), Marissa Irvin (USA), Jamea Jackson (USA), Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR), Iva Majoli (CRO), Shenay Perry (USA), Alexandra "Dr. A" Stevenson (USA) and Nicole Vaidisova (CZE).

Here is a breakdown of the four sections of the women's draw:

First Quarter
Seeds: (1)Serena Williams, (7)Vera "Warren" Zvonareva, (9)Paola Suarez, (13)Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi, (17)Maria "Grunt-o-rama" Sharapova, (18)Magui "Don't Call Me Maggie" Serna, (30)Petra Mandula, (31)Elena Likhovtseva
Floaters: "Deliver Us From" Iva Majoli, Ashley "Anna 2.0" Harkleroad
Breakdown: All eyes will be on Serena to see if she can survive the Russian pile-on in her quarter. After facing either fellow Compton native and wildcard Angela Haynes or a qualifier in her opener, Serena could then face three Russians in succession in (31)Likhovtseva, (17)Sharapova, and then (7)Zvonareva in the quarterfinals. It's Serena versus the Russian Fed Cup team! No. 13 seed Smashnova-Pistolesi could face (WC)Majoli in her opener, with No. 30 Mandula against Anna 2.0. in a much-needed win for the American.

Second Quarter
Seeds: (4)Jennifer Capriati, (6)Ai Sugiyama, (10)Svetlana Kuznetsova, (14)Maggie Maleeva, (22)Tina Pisnik, (23)Dinara "Little Sis" Safina, (25)Eleni Daniilidou, (29)Karolina Sprem
Floaters: French teen Tatiana Golovin, Aniko Kapros, Alexandra "Dr. A" Stevenson (just kidding)
Breakdown: A nice draw for Capriati in this section, with the slumping (25)Daniilidou, but a possible fourth round match-up against (23)Safina or the super-teen Golovin. The hot-handed (10)Kuznetsova has a nice road and could easily emerge into the quarters over (6)Sugiyama who skipped Indian Wells last week to attend to family matters. With both Serena and Jen-Jen coming off injury, the entire top half of the draw could get ugly.

Third Quarter
Seeds: (3)Anastasia Myskina, (8)Nadia Petrova, (11)Silvia Farina Elia, (16)Fabiola "The Fabulous One" Zuluaga, (21)Nathalie Dechy, (24)Alicia Molik, (28)Lina Krasnoroutskaya, (32)Emilie Loit
Floaters: Amy "Joltin' Joe" Frazier, Laura Granville
Breakdown: The weakest section of the draw, (3)Myskina will break her racquet (she'll probably break it anyway) if she doesn't emerge from this quarter into the semis. Myskina could face either (16)The Fabulous One or the on-form (21)Dechy in the fourth round, while the upper half of the section is an ugly toss-up between Petrova, Molik, Loit, and Farina Elia. Take a pass on this section.

Bottom Quarter
Seeds: (2)Venus Williams, (5)Elena Dementieva, (12)Jelena Dokic, (15)Francesca Schiavone, (19)Meghann Shaughnessy, (20)Lisa Raymond, (26)Maria Sanchez Lorenzo, (27)Daniela "The Walking Stick" Hantuchova
Floaters: Japanese riser Saori Obata, Nicole Pratt, Barbara Schett, Chinese riser Jie Zheng
Breakdown: This section is all about Venus and her sweet draw. Jie Zheng or a qualifier in the opening round, then (27)Daniela "Circling the Drain" Hantuchova, then either (15)Schiavone or (20)Raymond, then in the quarterfinals maybe (5)Dementieva or (12)Dokic. Not bad. Watch for Obata who has an opportunity to punch through, or Pratt who could face countrywoman (12)Dokic in the second round. Without either of the Belgian waffles, tournament organizers will be keeping their fingers crossed for the older sibling to advance.

In last year's Miami singles final, (1)Serena beat a determined (6)Capriati 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, and in doubles the South African/Bulgarian pair of Liezel Huber/Magdalena Maleeva d. the Japanese pair of Shinobu Asagoe/Nana Miyagi 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. Serena (2003-02) and Venus (2001,'99-98) are the only returning singles champions in the draw.

On court today on the women's side are Casanova vs. (WC)J.Jackson, (WC)A.Stevenson vs. Koukalova, (WC)Majoli vs. (Q)Grande, Kremer vs. Cho, Medina Garrigues vs. (WC)Golovin, Jankovic vs. Schaul, Harkleroad vs. Craybas, (Q)Marrero vs. (WC)Haynes, Chladkova vs. Cervanova, Morigami vs. (Q)Snyder, Srebotnik vs. Asagoe, (Q)Lee-Waters vs. Vakulenko, Vento-Kabchi vs. (Q)Pin, (Q)Sun vs. Kapros, and Garbin vs. Czink.

On the men's side in opening day action are Escude vs. (WC)Ivanisevic, (Q)Heuberger vs. T.Martin, Enqvist vs. N.Lapentti, (WC)Bogomolov Jr. vs. Kucera, Ramirez Hidalgo vs. Ginepri, Kiefer vs. Andreev, Sluiter vs. W.Ferreira, (WC)B.Baker vs. Saulnier, Davydenko vs. T.Johansson, (Q)Tursunov vs. Pavel, Arazi vs. Ascione, Sanguinetti vs. Ljubicic, Melzer vs. Karlovic, A.Martin vs. (Q)Koubek, Soderling vs. Ferrer, and (Q)Morrison vs. (Q)Benneteau.

WTA MIAMI MULTIPLE WINNERS
Martina Hingis and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario are the only players to win multiple singles and doubles titles (with the same partner) at Miami, while Jana Novotna won multiple doubles titles with an amazing three different partners:

5--Steffi Graf, GER (1996-94,'88-87)
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3--Venus Williams, USA (2001,'99-98)
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2--Martina Hingis, SUI (2000,'97)
2--Martina Hingis/Jana Novotna, SUI/CZE (1999-98)
2--Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, ESP (1993-92)
2--Jana Novotna/Helena Sukova, CZE/CZE (1990-89)
2--Jana Novotna/Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, CZE/ESP (1996-95)
2--Monica Seles, USA (1991-90)
2--Serena Williams, USA (2003-02)

WTA TOP 10 THIS WEEK
Half of the Top 10 will miss Miami this week due to injury or disinterest:

1. Justine Henin-Hardenne -- not playing (rest)
2. Kim Clijsters -- not playing (injury)
3. Amelie Mauresmo -- not playing (injury)
4. Lindsay Davenport -- not playing (rest)
5. Anastasia Myskina -- Miami
6. Serena Williams -- Miami
7. Jennifer Capriati -- Miami
8. Elena Dementieva -- Miami
9. Chanda Rubin -- not playing (injury)
10. Ai Sugiyama -- Miami

MIAMI USA BROADCAST SCHEDULE (EST)
Sun., March 28, Tennis Channel, 11am-11pm (live)
Sun., March 28, ESPN, 2-4pm (tape)
Mon., March 29, Tennis Channel, 12am-10am (tape)
Mon., March 29, ESPN, 1-5pm (live), 9:30-11:30pm (tape)
Tues., March 30, ESPN, 1-5pm (live)
Wed., March 31, ESPN, 1-5pm (live), ESPN2, 12:30-2:30am (tape)
Thurs., April 1, ESPN, 1-5pm (live), ESPN2, 11pm-1a, (tape), 12:30-2:30am (tape)
Fri., April 2, ESPN 3-5pm (live), ESPN2 7-9pm (live)
Sat., April 3, CBS, noon-2pm (live)
Sun., April 4, CBS, noon-3pm (live)

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