Five current and former Grand Slam champions lead a high-profile field at the Eastbourne Championships starting Monday as top women make final preparations for Wimbledon.
With the grass-court Grand Slam beginning in a week, top seed Amelie Mauresmo, who won the Australian Open this year, will get her only start on grass before the major.
The Frenchwoman will be keen to get over the disappointment of last year's Eastbourne second-round shock ouster at the hands of Russian teenaged finalist Vera Dushevina.
Seeded second is Kim Clijsters, reigning US Open winner who lifted the first grass trophy of her career here a year ago as she beat Dushevina.
Also among the Grand Slam elite on display at this south coast seaside town is Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne, who won a third French Open title last weekend. 2004 US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, losing Roland Garros final to Henin-Hardenne, takes the fourth seeding. Henin-Hardenne, whose five major titles include all three save Wimbledon, would love to take a run at the All England club title. "That's another story for me," she said. "I'm not as familiar with the surface as here. I'll see what I can do. "I'm dreaming of winning Wimbledon one day. It would be the cherry on the cake. We'll see what the future will say. I have a few years ahead of me."
The Belgian had to withdraw from Eastbourne a year ago with injury and will be making her south coast debut at this edition.
"I heard that the courts are very good, and everyone says it is the best preparation for Wimbledon," said Henin-Hardenne."I hope that we are going to have good weather."
Another Russian, fifth seed Anastasia Myskina, the 2004 Paris champion, begins play on the lawns against a qualifier with sunshine dominating the forecast for the first half of the week.
Eighth seed Daniela Hantuchova will want to recover from a first-round loss in 2004, taking on Russian Elena Likhovtseva in the first round.
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