Sharapova, Walking Wounded Kick Off WTA Championships

Former No. 1 Maria Sharapova will be second match on against Swiss Patty Schnyder, while current world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport faces Russian Nadia Petrova in the nightcap.

Schnyder, Petrova and Elena Dementieva are the also-rans under pressure to prove they are in attendance in L.A. for reasons other than injuries to former No. 1s Justine Henin-Hardenne and sisters Serena and Venus Williams, who otherwise would have qualified among the Top 8. Dementieva was 0-3 last year in L.A., and 1-2 in 2003 in round robin play. For Petrova and Schnyder it is their first post-season appearance in the round robin format.

Clijsters is only 59 points ahead of Davenport on the WTA's 2005-only point standings, setting up a scenario where the player who gets a round further than the other takes home the year-end No. 1.

Both players downplayed the No. 1 race in their typical laid-back complimentary styles.

"It's a great goal to have and it's a great kind of incentive this week," Davenport said. "If it doesn't happen, it's not something that is going to worry me all that much. Kim totally deserves it."

Clijsters appeared just happy to be in L.A. after missing last year's event with a wrist injury.

"It would just make the year even more special, but it's not like it's on my mind now," Clijsters said. "If it happens, great. If it doesn't, that's not going to make my year worse."

Nice. Two nice young ladies. Can someone at least talk a little smack?