Petrova Set for Linz Title Defense; Sharapova, Schnyder, Vaidisova Await

LINZ, Austria - With only four more events remaining on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour calendar, players are preparing for the final stage this week at the Generali Ladies Linz presented by Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich. Maria Sharapova, defending champion Nadia Petrova and Patty Schnyder, as well as teenage sensation Nicole Vaidoisova highlight the field of this $600,000, Tier II event.

Top seed Sharapova and No.2 Petrova enter the week in top form. Both already qualified for the Sony Ericsson Championships next month and are looking to get another boost of confidence before the grand finale. Sharapova just claimed her fourth title of the year last week at Zurich and Petrova re-established herself among the game's elite by winning Stuttgart and reaching the Moscow final.

While Sharapova makes her first appearance here, Petrova hopes to improve her 10-4 record. The 24-year-old reached the final three years ago, made the semis in 2004 and defeated Schnyder in the final last year to collect her first Tour singles title. After a first round bye (for all top four seeds), Sharapova faces either 1997 champion Chanda Rubin or a qualifier. Petrova will play either Marion Bartoli or Shahar Peer.

No.3 seed Patty Schnyder knows she must play well here to secure one of the two remaining spots for Madrid. After solid showings at Stuttgart and Moscow, she made a disappointing first round exit last week at Zurich and hopes to bounce back here. The Swiss eliminated Daniela Hanutuchova and Ana Ivanovic last year before running into Petrova. Her first opponent this week is either Nathalie Dechy or Tamira Paszek.

No.4 seed Vaidisova, No.5 Ivanovic and No.6 Jelena Jankovic cannot qualify for Madrid but are serious threats this week. Vaidisova made the semis at Moscow two weeks ago, upsetting world No.1 Amélie Mauresmo along the way. Her first match is against either Mara Santangelo or a qualifier. Ivanovic could be a dangerous challenger for Sharapova in the quarterfinals. In the bottom half, Vaidisova could meet Jankovic in her quarterfinal and Petrova might run into Chakvetadze for the fourth time this year.

Rounding out the seeds are new Moscow champion Anna Chakvetadze (No.7) and Francesca Schiavone (No.8).

This is the 16th staging of the Generali Ladies Linz presented by Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich. Past champions include Mauresmo (2004), Ai Sugiyama (2003), Justine Henin-Hardenne (2002), Lindsay Davenport (2001, 2000) and Mary Pierce (1999). The winner this year takes home $95,500, while the finalist collects $51,000. (WTA)