Navratilova Takes Singles Wildcard in Netherlands

Wildcard entrants Martina Navratilova and Michaella Krajicek add some spice to an otherwise "B"-level-Russian-heavy field this week at the WTA stop in 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.

Two-time 2004 slam runner-up Elena Dementieva heads the field, joined by fellow Russian seeds Nadia Petrova and Dinara Safina, Spaniards Anabel "Funky Cold" Medina Garrigues and Nuria Llagostera "Pancho" Vives, Argentine Gisela "Sgt." Dulko, German Anna-Lena Groenefeld, and Czech Klara "Kouky" Koukalova.

Top two seeds Dementieva and Petrova received opening-round byes in typical WTA opening-round killing fashion, but match-ups of interest await in the later rounds: Navratilova opens against No. 166-ranked Claudine Schaul of Luxembourg, and can meet (1) Dementieva in the quarterfinals; (4) Safina opens against Israeli comer Shahar Peer, with a potential all-Russian semifinal in (2) Petrova vs. (4) Safina.

On court Monday are (WC) Navratilova vs. Schaul, Domachowska vs. (8) Klara "Kouky" Koukalova, Jidkova vs. (7) Groenefeld, Shaughnessy vs. Smashnova, Rezai vs. Chladkova, and Ruano Pascual vs. Dominikovic.