Former world number one and 2008 Wimbledon runner-up Serena Williams is the top seed at the Tier II tournament.

The Bank of the West Classic is the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world and is the first stop of the Olympus US Open Series.

As a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Tier II event, the Bank of the West Classic features a 28-player singles draw and a 16-team doubles draw with total prize money of $600,000.

The top four seeds, Serena Williams (1), Anna Chakvetadze (2), Vera Zvonareva (3), and Daniela Hantuchova (4), each received a first-round bye.

Highlighting first-round play will be the match-up between former No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport and the eighth-seeded Francesca Schiavone.

The seeds in the top half of the singles draw are Williams, Zvonareva, Patty Schnyder (5), and Schiavone. The bottom-quarter of the draw features the 2007 defending singles champion Anna Chakvetadze, Hantuchova, Marion Bartoli (6), Nadia Petrova (7), and defending doubles champions Sania Mirza and Shahar Peer.

The Bank of the West Classic will serve as an Olympic preview as a total of 23 players currently scheduled to play will compete for the Gold medal later this summer at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Of the group, 16 were announced as part of the Bank of the West Classic main singles draw.

An updated copy of the main draw is available at the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour website.

For more information about the Bank of the West Classic, please visit www.bankofthewestclassic.com.

A full day of tennis is scheduled for the second Monday of the tournament, including three matches for Venus and Serena Williams on Court No. 2—also known as the Graveyard of Champions. Shortly after their singles matches, Venus and Serena will return to the same court to play doubles.

(2) Jelena Jankovic vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn
Two weeks ago, Tamarine Tanasugarn would have sounded like an unlikely player in the fourth round of a Grand Slam. But since winning the Ordina Open, the Thai veteran is playing some of the best tennis of her career. At thirty-one years of age, Tanasugarn is just one match away from her best run at a major–if she can get past Jankovic.

Jelena Jankovic is beginning to remind me of Kim Clijsters because of their joint propensity to injury and struggles at majors. I do believe that Jankovic has an opportunity to win the title, but the big question is whether she can stay healthy enough to win four more matches.
Jelena Jankovic in 3 sets

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. (14) Agnieszka Radwanska
On paper, Kuznetsova should win this match, but that was also the same thing that should have happened in their last meeting at a major. Radwanska booted Kuznetsova out of the Australian Open in January, although this time, it is safe to assume that Svetlana will be a little more wary of the Polish teenager’s crafty game.
Svetlana Kuznetsova in 3 sets

(5) Elena Dementieva vs. (24) Shahar Peer
Peer has been stuck in a slump for most of 2008, so this is a good sign to see her back in the fourth round of a major. The Israeli has a solid serve and baseline game, but her biggest weakness is her temperament. She can be somewhat of a hothead on court, which could give her trouble against Dementieva, one of the Tour’s most patient players.
Elena Dementieva in 3 sets

(6) Serena Williams vs. Bethanie Mattek
I’m not superstitious, but even I have to admit that it is a bad stroke of luck when the remaining two former Wimbledon champions both get scheduled for the Graveyard court on the same day. Serena admitted a few days ago after her last match on Court No. 2 that the thought of an upset crossed her mind, so it is safe to presume that she will look to get off the court quickly on Monday.

Bethanie Mattek struggles with consistency and this could be her downfall against Serena. Serena has been streaky over the past three rounds, so I expect Mattek to win a few games, yet she does not have enough variety and power to stop Serena for good.
Serena Williams in 2 sets

(7) Venus Williams vs. Alisa Kleybanova
Next up on the Graveyard of Champions is last year’s winner Venus Williams. Fans holding tickets for Court No. 2 are in for a rare treat, although they may be unfamiliar with Venus’ opponent. Alisa Kleybanova of Russia is making her debut at the Championships and has already scored wins over Tzipora Obziler, Daniela Hantuchova, and Ai Sugiyama.

Kleybanova considers grass one of her favorite surfaces, but she must play the match of her life if she wants to beat Venus, who set a new Wimbledon women’s record for the fastest serve (127 mph) in her third round match.
Venus Williams in 2 sets

(8) Anna Chakvetadze vs. (18) Nicole Vaidisova
This will be a loud match–and I’m not referring to the crowd. Anna Chakvetadze and Nicole Vaidisova are two of the most emotional players inside the top 50, so fans will hear outbursts in Russian, German, Czech, and probably a little English. Expect the winner to be the woman who beats herself up the least.
Anna Chakvetadze in 3 sets

(15) Agnes Szavay vs. Jie Zheng
Agnes Szavay was one of the best stories during the fall of 2007, but so far in 2008, her performance has only been average. Her third round match against Anabel Medina Garrigues was hampered by thirty-one unforced errors and eight double-faults, while Jie Zheng’s play against Ana Ivanovic was near-perfect textbook tennis.
Jie Zheng in 3 sets

(21) Nadia Petrova vs. Alla Kudryavtseva
After watching Nadia Petrova fall from No. 5 to almost outside the Top 30, it is good to see her back in contention at a major. One of the best players never to win a Slam, Nadia Petrova is surprisingly wearing Venus Williams’ EleVen line at Wimbledon.

Alla Kudryavtseva is still cruising after her second round win over Maria Sharapova, so this is a winnable match for the talkative Russian. She won several new fans after that victory—and made a few enemies because of her post-match comments about Maria’s personality and tuxedo outfit.
Nadia Petrova in 2 sets

A few players dazzled, but the rest reminded us that the largest room in the world is the room for improvement.

(1) Ana Ivanovic
The top seed remains a class act, both off and on the court. While I’m not convinced that she can beat the Williams sisters or Sharapova on these fast lawns, Ivanovic looks like an easy lock to reach the semifinals.

(2) Jelena Jankovic
As unbelievable as it may seem, Jelena Jankovic has actually headed to Wimbledon rested and healthy. She resisted the urge to compete at Birmingham, Eastbourne, or s’-Hertogenbosch, which means that she might actually last ten days without reciting a litany of aches and pains.

(3) Maria Sharapova
It was a solid opening round performance for the former champion, although she did struggle a little in the second set. On the fashion front, I found myself agreeing with Brad Gilbert for the first time in a long while as I’m also not impressed with the tuxedo shorts look.

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova
About the only thing positive to say about Kuznetsova’s first round match is that she somehow managed to win. Kuznetsova’s inconsistency continues to hurt her at majors and if her opening match is any indication of the future, she’ll be out before the week is over.

(5) Elena Dementieva
At the time this was published, Dementieva was the only seed still battling in the first round. When the match was suspended on Tuesday, Dementieva held a 6-3, 3-3 lead over Maria Elena Camerin. Most impressively, she has a 74% first serve percentage and zero double faults.

(6) Serena Williams
Kaia Kanepi was a tough customer for Serena in the opening round, but after shaking off some excess rust, the former champ still escaped in two sets. I’m not going to label it a shoddy performance, but Serena has plenty of room for improvement.

(7) Venus Williams
Compared to her first round last season, Venus did well to shut Naomi Cavaday down in the tiebreak. Still, like her sister, she needs another few rounds to hit her groove.

(8) Anna Chakvetadze
For about 30 minutes on Monday, I thought we’d see a double Russian exit with the upsets of Kuznetsova and Chakvetadze. Both women lived to fight another day, but given Chakvetadze’s lack of confidence, she might not be so fortunate next time.

(9) Dinara Safina
It is too early to tell if Safina’s upset in the final at the Ordina Open was a momentary fluke or a sign of exhaustion. If it is the latter, she’ll have a tough task ahead of her with Dementieva, Shahar Peer, and an injured, but still dangerous Lindsay Davenport in her quarter.

(10) Daniela Hantuchova
Big accolades go to Hantuchova, who successfully returned to the Tour with a straight sets victory over Sara Errani after spending two months on the injured list.

Safina is expected to compete alongside Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Elena Dementieva.

Russia’s team captain Shamil Tarpischev announced his tentative squad last month, but Chakvetadze recently asked to have her name removed from the team roster.

According to Chakvetadze’s mother, the Russian No. 4 has decided to skip the Olympics because of her recent struggles.

“Anna has no plans to compete in Beijing because her current form is far from ideal,” said her mother to the Allsport news agency.

Chakvetadze played her first match at the Wimbledon Championships on Monday and was forced to save three match points before beating Stephanie Dubois 2-6, 6-1, 8-6.

Helmed by No. 2 Jelena Jankovic, the bottom half also includes 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, 1999 winner Lindsay Davenport, and four-time champion Venus Williams.

Venus and Serena Williams are on opposite sides of the draw, potentially leading to an All-Williams championship match. They have not met at Wimbledon since the final in 2003 which Serena won in three sets.

Three first round matches merit close watching during the opening two days of play. Serena Williams, a two-time winner at Wimbledon, is expected to begin her campaign against Kaia Kanepi, a quarterfinalist earlier this month at the French Open.

Defending champion Venus Williams pulled British hopeful and wild card Naomi Cavaday, and should 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo recover from her thigh injury in time to compete, she will face resurgent American Ashley Harkleroad in the first round.

First Look at the Top Eight Wimbledon Seeds

(1) Ana Ivanovic (First Round: Rossana De Los Rios)
Top seed Ana Ivanovic’s recent accolades include winning her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros, along with taking the No. 1 ranking away from Maria Sharapova, but like many of the other top players, her preparation for Wimbledon did not include any actual matches.

This will be a new experience for Ivanovic, who has never entered a Grand Slam as a top seed or faced the pressure of being expected to win. She has a relatively good draw and should have a clear shot to the quarterfinals, where she could play eighth seed Anna Chakvetadze.
Prediction: Semifinals

(2) Jelena Jankovic (First Round: Olga Savchuk)
The personable Jelena Jankovic is quickly becoming the Tour’s best bridesmaid. She has stood at the Grand Slam altar four times in the semifinals, but has not been able to win just one more round to reach a Championship.

Her personality has brought her more fans than her results of late, and although she is seeded No. 2, this could be her toughest draw at a Grand Slam. If the draw holds, she’ll play defending champion Venus Williams in the quarterfinals, and if she wins that match, her reward may be a semifinal against Maria Sharapova.
Prediction: Runner-up

(3) Maria Sharapova (First Round: Stephanie Foretz)
The biggest question surrounding Maria Sharapova is not whether she can win her fourth Grand Slam title, but will her serve even lead her into the second week of the tournament. She had a disappointing run at the French Open and produced some of her worst serving since suffering a shoulder injury in 2007. I can’t see Sharapova going far on the fast lawns at Wimbledon if she duplicates her Paris statistic of forty-three double faults in just four rounds.

Sharapova is in the toughest quarter of the draw with Elena Dementieva, Dinara Safina, Nadia Petrova, rising star Victoria Azarenka, and experienced veteran Lindsay Davenport.
Prediction: Semifinals

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova (First Round: Mathilde Johansson)
Calling Kuznetsova’s draw tough might be an understatement. If the seedings hold Kuznetsova will play Alona Bondarenko in the third round, one of the most talented young women rising through the Tour ranks and a player who has beaten Kuznetsova in both of their previous meetings.

If the Russian makes it to the fourth round, she could then play Grand Slam giant-killer Agnieszka Radwanska, followed by Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. Given Kuznetsova’s recent inconsistency and her 6-2, 6-2 loss to Caroline Wozniacki at Eastbourne, she could become the first top player to fall in the first week.
Prediction: Quarterfinals

(5) Elena Dementieva (First Round: Maria Elena Camerin)
Not surprising given the speed of grass and her own serve struggles, Elena Dementieva has never been a major contender at Wimbledon. After looking at her draw, don’t expect that to change this year.

She is in the same tough quarter as Sharapova and could face Lindsay Davenport in the third round. While Dementieva can handily outrun Davenport, Lindsay will have the advantage in the service department. Lindsay’s serve has led her to seven consecutive second week appearances at the Championships, and although she is not yet her old self, Davenport has a legitimate chance at making her streak extend to eight.
Prediction: Fourth round

(6) Serena Williams (First Round: Kaia Kanepi)
Serena Williams could have a tough first round encounter with Kaia Kanepi, but after that, I like her chances of emerging victorious from the top half of the draw. She has a trio of inconsistent top players in her quarter, namely Svetlana Kuznetsova, Amelie Mauresmo, and Marion Bartoli.

Kuznetsova has a draw that will give her nightmares before she heads home, Mauresmo is nursing a thigh injury, and although Bartoli is currently still alive in the draw at Eastbourne, she previously lost three straight first round matches.
Prediction: Champion

(7) Venus Williams (First Round: Naomi Cavaday)
Defending champion Venus Williams is in the tough half of the draw, but she should easily set up a fourth round meeting against Daniela Hantuchova—if Hantuchova’s foot holds up that long. The Slovakian has been off the Tour since April because of a stress fracture in her right heel.

If Hantuchova is fully recovered, she might be able to pressure Venus, but I would expect the best match of the bottom half to come in the quarterfinals between Venus and Jelena Jankovic. Jankovic holds a surprising 4-3 record over the four-time champion and was the last player to defeat Venus at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Quarterfinals

(8) Anna Chakvetadze (First Round: Stephanie Dubois)
If you are looking for a surprise at Wimbledon, keep your eye on Chakvetadze.

The 21-year old Russian has reportedly started working with Carlos Rodriguez and although Rodriquez never coached Justine Henin to a Wimbledon title, he might be able to help Chakvetadze reach the second week for the first time in her career.
Prediction: Quarterfinals

To view a real-time copy of the 2008 Wimbledon draw, please visit the official website.

Only eight women’s singles matches were completed on Tuesday at Roland Garros, forcing tournament organizers to plan an ambitious schedule of play for Wednesday.

Weather permitting, players from both sides of the women’s draw will hit the courts on Wednesday, including top seed Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.

Aaress’ Picks for Wednesday

(1) Maria Sharapova vs. Evgeniya Rodina
Although she has described herself in the past as a “cow on ice,” Maria Sharapova’s clay court game has improved with every season. She still has not managed to get sliding down to an art, but she is comfortable at the net and has started using the angles more to her advantage.

Unlike many other Russians, Sharapova feels no pressure when facing her countrywomen, so look for her to stroll into the second round in just two sets.
Maria Sharapova in 2 sets

(2) Ana Ivanovic vs. Lucie Safarova
Lucie Safarova has been known to save some of her best tennis for Grand Slams, so Ivanovic will need to dominate the pace from the start. The second seed struggled in her first round match, but still managed to get past Sofia Arvidsson by avoiding a tiebreak for 6-2, 7-5. Ivanovic may have a few more rounds to get accustomed to the conditions in Paris before running into a seeded player, yet she needs to start projecting the confidence that makes her a favorite for the title.
Ana Ivanovic in 2 sets

(6) Anna Chakvetadze vs. Nuria Llagostera Vives
While the big four–Maria, Ana, Jelena, and Serena–are being touted as title favorites, I like Anna Chakvetadze’s chances of making some noise in Paris. She is in the top half of the draw with Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova, but if her fellow Russians tumble, she’ll have a good chance of reaching the semifinals.

Although Vives is ranked almost eighty spots beneath Chakvetadze, both of their previous meetings have been close and gone to three sets.
Anna Chakvetadze in 2 sets

(9) Marion Bartoli vs. Casey Dellacqua
The last Grand Slam was one of the best ten days of Casey Dellacqua’s young career. She thrilled her local fans in Melbourne with a run to the fourth round and since then she has risen to a career high of No. 51.

Casey is the same age as her opponent, Marion Bartoli, although far less experienced. Bartoli has not been able to recapture the form that led her to the Wimbledon final in 2007, yet she has managed to return to the Top 10. If Marion’s wrist has completely healed, she’ll be able to weather Dellacqua’s pounding onslaught. If not, look for Dellacqua to score her first Top 10 upset.
Casey Dellacqua in 3 sets

(25) Nadia Petrova vs. Aravane Rezai
It has been two years since Rezai took Paris by storm with a run to the fourth round, and this year, she has already posted solid results with a runner-up trophy in Auckland and a semifinal finish in Fes. Facing a seed in the first round is hardly an ideal draw at a major, but Nadia Petrova is currently about as inconsistent as they come. Petrova’s already infamous mental game is at an all-time low, and she has only posted six wins in almost as many months this season.
Aravane Rezai in 3 sets

She Said What?

Svetlana Kuznetsova about her disappointment regarding Justine Henin’s retirement:
“What you want me to say? I’m happy she left or I’m not happy I cannot battle her again? (laughter.) Which one you want to hear?

I’m not going to say I’m happy; I’m not going to say I’m sad because I’m not going to play her again. It’s not about that. It’s just about one more great player leaving the game.”

What Else is Happening in Paris?

All About Doubles
The doubles and mixed doubles draws are available at the Roland Garros website.

Sugiyama matches major record
Ai Sugiyama has competed in fifty-six consecutive Grand Slams.

USA Television Schedule

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
First/Second Round - TTC - 5:00 am - 12:00 pm (LIVE)
Early Round Coverage Day #4 - ESPN2 - 12:00 pm - 6:30 pm (LIVE)

All times are Eastern.

Don’t forget to enter On the Baseline’s Pick the Winner’s contest! The entry deadline for Wednesday’s featured match is 4:00 am ET.

Rain washed out the second half of play on Monday, so on Tuesday the French Open will have a busy schedule of first round matches.

Five members of the Top 10 will compete on Tuesday, including top seed Maria Sharapova.

Aaress’ Picks for Tuesday

(1) Maria Sharapova vs. Evgeniya Rodina
Although she has described herself in the past as a “cow on ice,” Maria Sharapova’s clay court game has improved with every season. She still has not managed to get sliding down to an art, but she is comfortable at the net and has started using the angles more to her advantage.

Unlike many other Russians, Sharapova feels no pressure when facing her countrywomen, so look for her to stroll into the second round in just two sets.
Maria Sharapova in 2 sets

(6) Anna Chakvetadze vs. Nuria Llagostera Vives
While the big four–Maria, Ana, Jelena, and Serena–are being touted as title favorites, I like Anna Chakvetadze’s chances of making some noise in Paris. She is in the top half of the draw with Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova, but if her fellow Russians tumble, she’ll have a good chance of reaching the semifinals.

Although Vives is ranked almost eighty spots beneath Chakvetadze, both of their previous meetings have been close and gone to three sets.
Anna Chakvetadze in 2 sets

(9) Marion Bartoli vs. Casey Dellacqua
The last Grand Slam was one of the best ten days of Casey Dellacqua’s young career. She thrilled her hometown fans in Melbourne with a run to the fourth round and since then she has risen to a career high of No. 51.

Casey is the same age as her opponent on Monday, Marion Bartoli, although far less experienced. Bartoli has not been able to recapture the form that led her to the Wimbledon final in 2007, yet she has managed to return to the Top 10. If Marion’s wrist has completely healed, she’ll be able to weather Dellacqua’s pounding onslaught. If not, look for Dellacqua to score her first Top 10 upset.
Casey Dellacqua in 3 sets

She Said What?

Venus Williams about her tough first round match against Tzipora Obziler:
“Sometimes tennis isn’t always won as quick as you want. I think she really played some good tennis.

She made some good shots and fought really hard, fought hard for that second set, and it was just important to close it out in the third.”

What Else is Happening in Paris?

Stosur steps up comeback in Paris
Samantha Stosur is back on the Tour after recovering from Lyme’s disease.

Belgium tries to regroup after losing its 2 stars
Belgium has just one player in the main draw of the French Open, Yanina Wickmayer, who is ranked at No. 98 in the world.

USA Television Schedule

Tuesday, May 27, 2008
First Round - TTC - 5:00 am - 12:00 pm (LIVE)
Early Round Coverage Day #3 - ESPN2 - 12:00 pm - 6:30 pm (LIVE)

All times are Eastern.

Don’t forget to enter On the Baseline’s Pick the Winner’s contest! The entry deadline for Tuesday’s featured match is 4:00 am ET.

Monday’s play at the 2008 French Open will showcase the skills of two former world number one players, Venus Williams and France’s own Amelie Mauresmo.

Also expected to play on day two at Roland Garros are third seed Jelena Jankovic, sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze, and ninth seed Marion Bartoli.

Aaress’ Picks for Monday

(3) Jelena Jankovic vs. Monica Niculescu
Now that Justine Henin is headed for a life of peace and quiet in Monte Carlo, Jelena Jankovic remains the best mover in women’s tennis. Her prowess on clay was evident two weeks ago in Rome where she defended her title after dropping just one set. Fortunately, she took a few days off since leaving Italy, which means that she might last two weeks in Paris without taking more than her customary injury timeouts.

Monica Niculescu is playing in her first French Open and only second major tournament, but the Romanian No. 3 has won fifteen ITF circuit singles titles.
Jelena Jankovic in 2 sets

(6) Anna Chakvetadze vs. Nuria Llagostera Vives
While the big four–Maria, Ana, Jelena, and Serena–are being touted as title favorites, I like Anna Chakvetadze’s chances of making some noise in Paris. She is in the top half of the draw with Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova, but if her fellow Russians tumble, she’ll have a good chance of reaching the semifinals.

Although Vives is ranked almost eighty spots beneath Chakvetadze, both of their previous meetings have been close and gone to three sets.
Anna Chakvetadze in 2 sets

(9) Marion Bartoli vs. Casey Dellacqua
The last Grand Slam was one of the best ten days of Casey Dellacqua’s young career. She thrilled her hometown fans in Melbourne with a run to the fourth round and since then she has risen to a career high of No. 51.

Casey is the same age as her opponent on Monday, Marion Bartoli, although far less experienced. Bartoli has not been able to recapture the form that led her to the Wimbledon final in 2007, yet she has managed to return to the Top 10. If Marion’s wrist has completely healed, she’ll be able to weather Dellacqua’s pounding onslaught. If not, look for Dellacqua to score her first Top 10 upset.
Casey Dellacqua in 3 sets

She Said What?

Ana Ivanovic on her need for rest during the season:
“I think it’s important through the year to get enough time also for rest and recovery, and then prepare again.

And, you know, there is–after Miami I had some break, and after Wimbledon again. So for me, personally, it’s very important. And, yeah, I think it’s good to try to work out the best for you.”

What Else is Happening in Paris?

Results aren’t matching Vaidisova’s irrefutable talent
Nicole Vaidisova has lost six straight matches.

Daily Live Updates
Don’t miss Drew Lilley’s live blogging at the official Roland Garros website.

USA Television Schedule

Monday, May 26, 2008
First Round - TTC - 5:00 am - 3:00 pm (LIVE)
All times are Eastern.

Don’t forget to enter On the Baseline’s Pick the Winner’s contest! The entry deadline for Monday’s featured match is 4:00 am ET.

In the field led by new world No. 1 Maria Sharapova, the top five seeds are Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Serena Williams.

Projected Paths of Top Seven Seeds

(1) Maria Sharapova (First Round: Evgeniya Rodina)
The toughest leg of Maria Sharapova’s pursuit of the career Grand Slam looked a bit easier when the main draw was selected this morning in France. Sharapova, who once described her game on clay akin to a “cow on ice” has a very good chance to go deep into the draw of the one Slam that has eluded her.

She could face a tough match in the quarterfinals against recent Berlin champion Dinara Safina, but with Ivanovic, Jankovic, and both Williams sisters on the other side of the draw, the world No. 1 could not have received a kinder draw.

(2) Ana Ivanovic (First Round: Sofia Arvidsson)
Ana Ivanovic, last year’s finalist, has matured over the past year and with Justine Henin out of the picture, she is now is one of the favorites for the title.

But a few floaters in her quarter of the draw could stop her in her tracks, including Nicole Vaidisova and Lucie Safarova. If these two do not pose enough trouble for the world No. 2, Serena Williams could await her in the quarterfinals.

(3) Jelena Jankovic (First Round: Qualifier)
Jelena Jankovic is fresh off a brilliant title defense in Rome, and now that Henin, the one player who denied her a chance to reach the championship round at two majors has retired, Jelena is arguably one of the Tour’s most effective players on clay.

This may give her a technical edge over other title favorites Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, but it remains to be seen whether Jankovic possesses the passion, fight, and experience to bring home her first Grand Slam title. She will be put to the test early on as her quarter is packed with dangerous foes, including Rome finalist Alize Cornet, Marion Bartoli, Agnieszka Radwanska, and former world number ones Venus Williams and Amelie Mauresmo.

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova (First Round: Aiko Nakamura)
One of the most underestimated of recent Grand Slam champions, Svetlana Kuznetsova has a very good chance of a second breakthrough on Tour. She is comfortable on the surface at Roland Garros, having reached the final in 2006 before becoming yet another of Justine Henin’s clay casualties.

Kuznetsova is in the same weak top half of the draw as Maria Sharapova, and should the seedings hold and Sharapova and Kuznetsova both reach the semifinals, Svetlana would be favored to oust the top seed on Sharapova’s worst surface.

(5) Serena Williams (First Round: Ashley Harkleroad)
An all-Williams final is out of the question with Venus and Serena both in the same half of the draw, but fans could see them battle in the semifinals for a berth in the championship match. Serena, a former 2002 French Open champion, has been one of the best players of 2008 and another Grand Slam title would vastly help her pursuit of reclaiming the number one ranking.

Despite being in the tough section of the draw, Serena has to like her chances, regardless of potential meetings with tricky lefty Patty Schnyder in the round of sixteen and second seed Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals.

(6) Anna Chakvetadze (First Round: Nuria Llagostera Vives)
Again with the absence of Henin, the entire draw at Roland Garros is wide open, making this a prime battle ground for an unheralded winner. Ironically though, players who would have been called surprise champions two weeks ago are now being touted as title contenders.

While Anna Chakvetadze does not fit into the favorites category, she does have an opportunity to make a deep Grand Slam run if Kuznetsova and Sharapova falter before the middle of the second week.

(7) Venus Williams (First Round: Tzipora Obziler)
Like her sister Serena, Venus Williams’ path could lead her straight for a collision course with a rising Serbian star. Jelena Jankovic and V. Williams are far from strangers, having played seven times in their careers. Their most recent encounter was only last week in the quarterfinals of Rome where Venus appeared in control after taking the first set, only to lose 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

Amelie Mauresmo could face Venus in the fourth round and although the two-time Grand Slam champion has been stuck in a slump for over a year, you can never underestimate the power of an underdog playing on her home turf.

To view a real-time copy of the 2008 Roland Garros draw, please visit the official website.

The Bank of the West Classic is the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world and is the first stop of the Olympus US Open Series.

Chakvetadze is currently ranked No. 8 in the world and has seven Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles to her credit.

Last year was a breakout season for the young Russian star as she captured four singles titles, including the Bank of the West Classic, reached the semifinals of the US Open and quarterfinals of both the Australian Open and French Open.

Chakvetadze joins three-time Grand Slam Champion Lindsay Davenport and 2007 Bank of the West Classic finalist Sania Mirza as tournament commitments.

The Bank of the West Classic, a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour event, features a 28-player singles draw as well as a 16-team doubles draw.

The list of past champions of the event reads like a Who’s Who of women’s tennis including Davenport, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Andrea Jaeger, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters.

The 2008 Bank of the West Classic will be held July 14-20 at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium on the campus of Stanford University.