Henin headlines field at Rogers Cup

Aug 14, 2007 - 10:34 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Justine Henin begins her preparation for the U.S. Open this week as the top seed at the $1.34 million Rogers Cup.

The world's top-ranked player, Henin has been out of action since falling in the semifinals to Marion Bartoli of France at Wimbledon in early in July.

Despite her surprising loss at the All England Club, Henin has enjoyed a monster year, winning five titles - including her sixth career Grand Slam at Roland Garros - en route to going 38-4 overall.

Henin has enjoyed success on the Toronto hardcourts, winning the title in 2003 and finishing as runner-up to Kim Clijsters in her last appearance here two years ago.

In two weeks, the Belgian will open her quest to win the U.S. Open - the year's final Grand Slam - for a second time in her career.

Henin was one of the top eight seeds who received a bye into the second round of this tournament.

Seeded second is Serbian Jelena Jankovic, who has captured four titles this year. The world's third-ranked player withdrew in the fourth round here last year with right shoulder tendinitis.

Also making her first appearance since Wimbledon is third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian, who was beaten by eventual champion Venus Williams at the All England Club, has failed to make it past the third round in three tries here.

The fourth seed is defending champion Ana Ivanovic, who enters after winning the $600,000 East West Bank Classic on Sunday. The 19-year-old Serbian also reached the final at Roland Garros and semis at Wimbledon en route to rising to fourth in the world rankings.

Making her mark on American hardcourts this summer with titles at Cincinnati and Stanford, Anna Chakvetadze is seeded fifth. The Russian was a semifinalist here last year.

The sixth seed is Russian Nadia Petrova, who lost to Ivanovic in Sunday's final in California.

Having made it out of the first round in just one of three tournaments since her run at Wimbledon, Bartoli is seeded seventh. The Frenchwoman reached the third round here last year.

The final seed to receive a bye was No. 8 Elena Dementieva of Russia. She reached the quarters last week in California before losing to Maria Sharapova.

Highlighted by No. 9 Dinara Safina of Russia, there were four seeds in action Monday.

Safina, who lost in the first round last week in California, received a stern test from Camille Pin of France before winning 7-6 (11-9), 3-6, 7-5.

After losing to Sharapova in the final at San Diego two weeks ago, No. 10 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland returned to her winning ways with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain.

No. 11 Shahar Peer of Israel advanced to the second round with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 (9-7) triumph over Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands.

Showing her grit, No. 15 Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia rallied for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine.

First prize is $181,980.