US OPEN
Women's favourites
Posted Fri, 25 Aug 2006

ANA IVANOVIC (SRB) - 20 - top seed

Ivanovic is seeking to reach her third Grand Slam final of the season following a win at the French Open and a (runner-up) at the Australian Open. A muscle strain in her leg did not allow Ivanovic to play any tune-ups prior to Wimbledon, where she made a disappointing third-round exit. Then a hand injury forced her to withdraw from the Olympic Games in Beijing, where she was named top seed. Her nine-week reign at number one was interrupted for a week earlier this month, but she has since regained the top spot in the WTA rankings.

JELENA JANKOVIC (SRB) - 23 - second seed

Despite playing consistently well all season, Jankovic has just one title on her resume this year. She advanced to the quarterfinals before being knocked out of the Beijing Games. She was ranked number one in the world earlier this year for one week. She is seeking to reach her first Grand Slam final in 20 attempts.

SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS) - 23 - third seed

Kuznetsova returns to the site of her only Grand Slam championship in search of her first title of any kind since last August in New Haven. She continues to be one of the more consistent players on the WTA Tour, remaining in the top five and even flirting with the number one ranking. As a former champion and finalist last year, she should come in brimming with confidence.

SERENA WILLIAMS (USA) - 26 - fourth seed

After almost disappearing from the WTA scene for a few years Williams is back in the limelight. She won gold in the Beijing Games with sister Venus after losing early in the singles. Between 1999 and 2002, Serena won two US Open titles and turned in a runner-up effort as well. She has not been able to advance past the quarterfinals in four appearances since as lately she has seemed more concerned with flogging her line of tennis clothing to New York designers than getting to another Grand Slam final.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA (RUS) - 26 - fifth seed

Known for her sweet forehand, Dementieva will come into the US Open on a high after winning the gold medal at the Olympics. She beat three current top 10 players en route to that honour, downing Serena Williams and Vera Zvonareva before topping countrywoman Dinara Safina in the gold medal match. Even before Beijing, Dementieva was having a pretty good season.

AFP