Ana Ivanovic will try to repeat as Rogers Cup champion in Toronto. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)
World No. 1 Justine Henin and defending champion Ana Ivanovic headline the field ready to hit the courts at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
Even though five of the top six ranked players in the world - No. 1 Henin, No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No. 5 Ivanovic and No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze - will be competing in Canada, the Toronto tournament lacks significant star power.
Last week, reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, her sister Serena, world No. 2 Maria Sharpova and former world No. 1s Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo withdrew, dealing a big blow to a tournament still trying to recover from last year's competition in Montreal.
Venus Williams, Sharapova, Henin, Mauresmo, Williams and Mary Pierce didn't make the trip to Canada in 2006, while Kim Clijsters was forced to withdraw from her second-round match after suffering a wrist injury.
This year's Rogers Cup kicks off Monday, with the semifinals slated for Aug. 18 (CBC, 1 and 7 p.m. ET) and the final scheduled for Aug. 19 (CBC, 2 p.m. ET).
Here's a look at the top players to watch:
CANADIAN CONTENT
Three Canadians - Aleksandra Wozniak (Blainville, Que.), Stephanie Dubois (Laval, Que.) and Marie-Eve Pelletier (Repentigny, Que.) - were named as wild card entries into the main draw of the Rogers Cup.
Wozniak, the top-ranked Canadian on the women's circuit, reached a career-high ranking of No. 83 in May after reaching her first ATP Tour final at a clay court event in Morocco. She also earned direct entry into each of the four Grand Slams in 2007.
Dubois has enjoyed a strong campaign on the summer hard court season, winning her sixth and seventh career titles at the BC Decker Hamilton Challenger and a tournament in Lexington, Ky. She was also a doubles champion and a singles finalist at the Odlum Brown women's challenger in Vancouver.
Pelletier has risen more than 60 spots in the rankings this year and won the doubles title at the Odlum Brown women's challenger with Dubois.
"These three women are rising stars and represent the best that Canadian tennis has to offer," said tournament director Karl Hale. "Playing in such a high-level tournament on your home soil is a special time and I am sure they will rise to the challenge and be embraced by Canadian supporters."
Ekaterina Shulaeva, from Oakville, Ont., is the other Canadian competing in Toronto.
FAVOURITES
Justine Henin - Belgium
Tournament seed: No. 1
The Belgian star has been out of action since losing in the semifinals of Wimbledon to France's Marion Bartoli, but the world No. 1 is anxious to build some momentum ahead of the U.S. Open in New York. Henin has won five tournaments this year, including the French Open in June, and boasts an impressive 44-4 record in 2007.
Jelena Jankovic - Serbia
Tournament seed: No. 2
With Sharapova taking a pass on Toronto, Jankovic has to be considered the top favourite behind Henin. Jankovic reached the semifinals of the French Open and the fourth round of Wimbledon, but also won four tournaments this year, including the Italian Open back in May. However, she has lost four times to Henin in 2007.
ON THE RISE
Marion Bartoli - France
Tournament seed: No. 7
Bartoli caught a lot of tennis fans off guard when she upset Jankovic and Henin at Wimbledon before losing to Venus Williams in the final at the All England Club. She also reached the final of the Prague Open in May, and boasts victories over Elena Dementieva and Daniela Hantuchova this year.
ON THE SLIDE
Nadia Petrova - Russia
Tournament seed: No. 6
Petrova's appearance in the finals of last week's East West Bank Classic doesn't disguise the fact that she has under-achieved this year. The Russian star failed to advance beyond the fourth round at three Grand Slams - Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon - and has won only a single title in 2007.
DARK HORSE
Dinara Safina- Russia
Tournament seed: No. 9
The Russian youngster has flown under the radar this year, but is due for a breakout performance in Toronto. Safina defeated Martina Hingis to win the Australian hardcourt championship in January, lost in the final of the Family Circle Cup and reached the quarterfinals of five other tournaments, including the Italian Open.
Rogers Cup
Top seeds
- Justine Henin
- Jelena Jankovic
- Svetlana Kuznetsova
- Ana Ivanovic
- Anna Chakvetadze
- Nadia Petrova
- Marion Bartoli
- Elena Dementieva
- Dinara Safina
- Patty Schnyder
CBC Sports broadcast schedule
- Saturday, Aug. 18 — Semifinal #1 (1 p.m. ET)
- Saturday, Aug. 18 — Semifinal #2 (7 p.m. ET)
- Sunday, Aug. 19 — Final (2 p.m. ET)
External Links
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- Rogers Cup
- Official Site
- WTA Tour
- Official Site
