Women Reach Slam Climax at US Open

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY, USA -- The Grand Slam season reaches its climax this coming fortnight as the stars of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour compete at the 2006 US Open. Two Grand Slam standouts are the favorites but they will face an onslaught of serious challengers from all directions.

Based on their respective performances at the majors so far this season, Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne head to Flushing Meadows with the highest of expectations. Mauresmo is the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion; Henin-Hardenne won Roland Garros and was runner-up at both of Mauresmo's major title runs. Fittingly, the Frenchwoman and the Belgian are the top two seeds, respectively, this coming fortnight.

Immediately behind Mauresmo and Henin-Hardenne in the rankings (and seedings) is a quartet of Russians, looking to put its country back in the Grand Slam winner's circle. Leading the pack is Maria Sharapova (the No.3 seed), a Wimbledon winner two years ago and one of this summer's best, capturing the Tier I title in San Diego. Others in the pack are Los Angeles titlist and former US Open finalist Elena Dementieva (No.4), four-time 2006 titlist Nadia Petrova (No.5), and former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (No.6).

Rounding out the Top 8 seeds are Switzerland's Patty Schnyder and Martina Hingis. Both women had strong summer showings, the No.7-seeded Schnyder making the Stanford final and San Diego semifinals and the No.8-seeded Hingis reaching the Montreal final and San Diego quarters. In particular, Hingis has been one of the biggest stories this year, just recently returning to the Top 10, having been a former No.1 and five-time major champion, including here in 1997.

A handful of threats lurk among the second tier of seeds. Nicole Vaidisova (No.9) just became the 12th-youngest player to crack the Top 10; Lindsay Davenport (No.10) has won three majors, including here in 1998; Mary Pierce (No.13) has won two majors, and was a runner-up here last year; and Serbian sensation Ana Ivanovic (No.16) just won her biggest ever title in Montreal, clinching first in the US Open Series. Also in this group are Anastasia Myskina (No.11), Dinara Safina (No.12), Francesca Schiavone (No.14) and Anna-Lena Groenefeld (No.15).

There are several players to watch among the lower tier of seeds and in the rest of the draw, most notably a pair of multiple former US Open champions. Venus Williams, seeded No.30 and a winner here in 2000 and 2001, and Serena Williams, unseeded and the champion here in 1999 and 2002, have both had injury struggles this season, but are always dangerous on the big stage.

Should the seeds hold on the top half, Mauresmo will face Hingis in the quarters for a chance to meet Sharapova or Petrova in the semis; Pierce, Ivanovic and Serena Williams also lie in this half. On the bottom half, Henin-Hardenne would meet Schnyder to play either Dementieva or Kuznetsova in the semis; Vaidisova, Davenport and Venus Williams lurk in this section.

There is one particularly noteworthy absence in the draw. Kim Clijsters was unable to return to Flushing Meadows this year to defend her title, having suffered a left wrist injury a few weeks ago that necessitated a two-month injury lay-off.

Despite the defending champion's absence, the field is packed with some of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's greatest ever names, and without one clear favorite, the 2006 US Open will surely be one of the most competitive in a while.
-- WTA