MIAMI, FL, USA - An absolutely packed field heads south this fortnight for the 2007 Sony Ericsson Open, arguably the biggest event on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour calendar outside of the four Grand Slam tournaments.Maria Sharapova is the No.1 seed at the $3.45-million, Tier I tournament. The Russian teenager hasn't won a title so far this season, but has still shown solid form, her results including reaching her third career major final at the Australian Open. And she has also been impressive on the hardcourts of the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, notching back-to-back runner-up finishes the last two years. After a first round bye, she will open her campaign against either doubles breakout star Chan Yung-Jan or feisty Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives.The world's current No.1 player, Justine Henin, is seeded No.2 this fortnight. With Sharapova's early loss at Indian Wells, Henin regained her top ranking this week, but not in time for the seedings here. Regardless, she can't be overlooked as a top threat. The Belgian is coming off back-to-back title runs in the Middle East at Dubai and Doha, and despite never going truly deep into the Miami draw (her best showings have been quarterfinal finishes, in 2003 and 2005), she seems to be playing some of her best tennis in recent weeks. She also begins her quest in the second round against American teen Vania King or China's Sun Tiantian.One year ago, Svetlana Kuznetsova announced her return to the game's elite with a title run at this tournament, and she certainly hasn't slowed down since. She finished 2006 tied for first among match win leaders and, among other feats, reached her second major final at Roland Garros. She had a rocky start to 2007 but in the last few weeks has recaptured some of her best form, reaching finals at Doha and Indian Wells. And this week she rose to No.3 on the rankings, making her just the fourth Russian ever to crack that elite. She'll begin her title defense after a first round bye against either Japan's Aiko Nakamura or a qualifier.Playing for the last time in Miami will be another one of the tournament's former champions, Kim Clijsters. Two years ago, the Belgian followed up an Indian Wells victory with a victory here, reasserting herself as one of the world's top players after a lengthy left wrist injury lay-off. She has had a stellar yet selective beginning to the year; she has played only three events but has put in excellent performances at all three, winning at Sydney, reaching the Australian Open semifinals and reaching another final in front of her home crowd in Antwerp. Seeded No.4 at this year's event, she will begin her quest in the second round against either Japan's Akiko Morigami or Canadian wild card Aleksandra Wozniak.Whereas Russians Sharapova and Kuznetsova are defending finalists (with Kuznetsova beating her compatriot in straight sets, 64 63, for the title last year), the two Belgian stars both dropped their opening matches last year to a pair of American players, Henin to former Top 15 player Meghann Shaughnessy in straight sets and Clijsters to veteran Jill Craybas in a dramatic three-setter.Perhaps some of the biggest threats to the title aren't among the Top 4 seeds; three players with incredible pasts at this tournament are a trio of its former champions, namely No.5 seed Martina Hingis, No.13 seed Serena Williams and an unseeded Venus Williams. Hingis is 28-6 lifetime here, with titles in 1997 and 2000; the younger Williams is 35-5 here, with titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004; and the elder Williams is 33-5 here, with titles in 1998, 1999 and 2001. Between them they are 96-16 here and won all eight titles between 1997 and 2004.Unfortunately for the three former world No.1s, they are all in the same half of the draw. And even more unfortunately, the Williams sisters are in the same eighth of it along with Sharapova; Venus could face the Russian top seed in the third round, with the winner of that potentially facing Serena in the fourth round. Hingis looms as a semifinal opponent, though she would face defending champ Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals, should the seedings hold.One of the more prominent threats among the seeds is Daniela Hantuchova, who comes in fresh off a dream run to her second career title at Indian Wells. The No.16-seeded Slovak will have to overcome a dismal lifetime record at the Tier I event, however; she is 2-7 in seven career appearances here, never going beyond the third round. She is in Henin’s section of the draw.Also among the Top 16 seeds are Russians Nadia Petrova, Anna Chakvetadze and Dinara Safina, Serbians Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic, Czech phenom Nicole Vaidisova, China's Li Na, Swiss Patty Schnyder and Israel's Shahar Peer.This is the 23rd year that the stars of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour have made their way to Miami. The champion takes home $492,950, while the runner-up earns $246,485. (WTA)
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