Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport, the top-ranked players in the world, enter next week's estyle.com Classic in Manhattan Beach, California, looking to rebound from recent losses.
Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport, the top-ranked players in the world, enter next week's estyle.com Classic in Manhattan Beach, California, looking to rebound from recent losses.
Among others scheduled to play in the week-long tournament at Manhattan Country Club beginning Monday are defending champion Serena Williams and Monica Seles.
Davenport, who won the tournament two years ago, was upset in the Acura Classic this week by Anna Kournikova on Wednesday, and Hingis was knocked out by Amy Frazier on Thursday.
Williams will be playing in her first tournament since losing to her sister, Venus, in the Wimbledon semifinals last month. Venus is playing in the Acura event, but not this tournament.
"Venus usually plays the first two tournaments after a major. I usually play the next two," Serena said. "I don't like to play directly after Wimbledon, where she does."
Serena went from her victory in this tournament to win the U.S. Open last year. The Open begins Aug. 28.
"I feel like I'm on my home turf there. I really can't wait to get there," Serena said. "My attitude is, 'This is my place, and you have to beat me.' That's how I'm going to feel, I feel really special there."
Hingis will be the top seed in the tournament, with Davenport seeded second; Seles third; Conchita Martinez fourth; Serena Williams fifth; Nathalie Tauziat sixth; Anke Huber seventh, and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario eighth.
Venus Williams and Mary Pierce are the only played ranked in the top 10 not competing.
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