Clijsters, Hingis, Henin-Hardenne In Wimbledon Action

(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) -- Clijsters leads 2-0

Clijsters opens her 2006 Wimbledon campaign against one of the most dangerous unseeded players in the draw, Zvonareva. Provided the Russian has fully recovered from the right Achilles strain that forced her to retire from Eastbourne (while playing Clijsters) last week, the Belgian will have her hands full with the former Top 10 player. Just over a week ago, Zvonereva claimed the grass court tune-up title at Birmingham, her fourth Tour singles triumph. Clijsters presented herself in solid grass court form last week with a run to the semis at Eastbourne.

(3) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) vs. Yuan Meng (CHN) -- First meeting

Henin-Hardenne's second Roland Garros title last year had a bitter after-taste. The Belgian became the first reigning Roland Garros winner to lose in the first round at Wimbledon, falling in a tight three-setter to Eleni Daniilidou. After capturing her third French Open crown three weeks ago, she will make sure the same thing won't happen again. If she carries over her game from last week at Eastbourne, where she captured her fourth Tour singles title of the year, she shouldn't have many problems with first round opponent, Yuan. The 19-year-old is making her Wimbledon debut and has never made it past the quarters of a Tour singles event (2005 Bangkok).

(5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. (Q) Romina Oprandi (ITA) -- Kuznetsova leads 1-0

Kuznetsova knows her first round match-up with Oprandi won't be a cake walk. The Russian felt the Italian breathing down her neck last month in the semifinals of Rome, saving a match point at 3-5 in the third set but eventually prevailing, 64 57 76(4). Oprandi had her career breakthrough at that event, reaching the quarters as a qualifier. Kuznetsova suffered a loss to compatriot Anastasia Myskina last week in the Eastbourne semifinals, so she might enter this match with some fire in her belly.

(8) Patty Schnyder (SUI) vs. Antonella Serra Zanetti (ITA) -- Serra Zanetti leads 1-0

This is a rather unpleasant deja-vu for Schnyder, who lost her Wimbledon opener last year to Serra Zanetti, 64 67(7) 63. Schnyder has never fared particularly well at this event. Her best result here was a third round finish five years ago. The 27-year-old is entering Wimbledon without any grass court tournament preparation. Serra Zanetti, on the other hand, played at Birmingham and Eastbourne but without success.

(10) Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) vs. Klara Koukalova (CZE) -- Series tied 1-1

Vaidisova is entering this match-up in the best shape of her life. After capturing her sixth Tour singles title at Strasbourg, she followed up with a terrific run to the Roland Garros semis. Not only did she upset Amelie Mauresmo in the fourth round, she also knocked out former world No.1 Venus Williams in the quarters. The 17-year-old then withdrew from Eastbourne due to fatigue. She can't afford to be tired against Koukalova, who has one Tour singles grass court title to her credit (2005 's-Hertogenbosch). Vaidisova won the last meeting in three sets last year in Philadelphia but Koukalova won two years ago at the Japan Open.

(12) Martina Hingis (SUI) vs. Olga Savchuk (UKR) -- First meeting

Former world No.1 Hingis is aiming for her 20th Wimbledon match win. In her seven previous Wimbledon appearances, the Swiss has gone through a series of highs and lows. In 1997, she thrilled the tennis world by becoming the youngest champion in the Open Era at 16 years, nine months and five days. But in 1999 and 2001, the Swiss suffered a couple of shocking first round losses, both times crashing out as the No.1 seed. Hingis has not competed here since 2001 but is coming off a run to the Roland Garros quarterfinals. Her opponent, Savchuk, is making her Wimbledon debut.
-- WTA