Six of Top 10 Women This Week at WTA Charleston

World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, fresh off her Amelia title run, heads the field joined by Top 8 seeds Dementieva, current French Open holder Anastasia Myskina, Venus Williams, Aussie Alicia Molik, Russians Vera Zvonareva and Nadia Petrova, and Swiss Miss Patty Schnyder.

In addition to Serena, other Top 10-ranked players taking a pass this week in Charleston are Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo, and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Unlike the ATP's Masters Series-Monte Carlo this week where first-round matches of interest abound, the WTA allots first-round byes to the Top 8 seeds, leaving fans to tune-in to the later rounds for things to heat up. Example: top-seeded Roger Federer faces Greg Rusedski in the opening round at Monte Carlo, wherein at Charleston the top-seeded Davenport receives a bye, then faces the winner of a qualifier and the No. 100+ ranked Jill Craybas. Tier I excitement -- catch it while you can.

Hard-core Charleston fans can look out for No. 10 seed Jelena Jankovic vs. former No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne in the opening round, or No. 13 Tatiana "Hot Pants" Golovin vs. Amy "Joltin' Joe" Frazier, wildcard Eleni Daniilidou vs. Meghann Shaughnessy in a former Top 15-ranked battle with the winner to face No. 14 Shinobu Asagoe, a potential second-rounder of teen sensation Nicole Vaidisova vs. the struggling No. 3 seed Myskina, and No. 15 Mary Pierce vs. American scrapper Mashona Washington in her opener.

Potential quarterfinal match-up are (1) Davenport vs. (6) Zvonareva, (4) Venus vs. (7) Petrova, (3) Myskina vs. (8) Schnyder, and (2) Dementieva vs. (3) Myskina.

Returning champions in the field at Charleston are Venus (2004), Henin-Hardenne (2003), Pierce (2000), and Conchita Martinez (1995-94).