Charleston WTA Tournament Preview

A packed field has arrived in Charleston for the 39th edition of the Family Circle Cup, and among the all-star field is the No.1-ranked player in the world, Caroline Wozniacki, who has always done well here - but this time hopes to go all the way.

Wozniacki, who rose to No.1 on October 11, 2010 and has held the top spot for all but one week since then (surrendering it to Kim Clijsters for seven days in February), was a runner-up in her debut here in 2009 (falling to Sabine Lisicki) and a semifinalist in 2010 (falling to Vera Zvonareva and an injured ankle). She is hoping for third time lucky this year as she goes for her first Premier-level clay court title (she already has nine Premier titles - eight on hardcourts, one on grass).

After a first round bye, Wozniacki will face either Magdalena Rybarikova or a qualifier. If she plays Rybarikova, she will be out for revenge - Rybarikova won their only prior meeting at Pattaya City two years ago, although Wozniacki wasn't in the Top 10 at that point (she was ranked No.12 then).

Should she win that match, Wozniacki's path could cross No.15 seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the third round, No.6 seed Yanina Wickmayer in the quarters and any of No.3 seed Jelena Jankovic, No.8 seed Alisa Kleybanova, No.10 seed Daniela Hantuchova or No.13 seed Patty Schnyder in the semis. Jankovic is a former champion here, while Schnyder is a two-time finalist and Hantuchova a semifinalist last year.

The bottom half of the draw is led by Samantha Stosur, the No.2 seed and defending champion. The popular Australian has not had a great start to 2011, going 9-8, but had a strong 47-19 record last year - which included an amazing 20-3 mark on clay. She won the biggest title of her career here last year and is hoping these courts will get her mojo going again.

After a first round bye, Stosur will play either Zhang Shuai or Patricia Mayr-Achleitner. Her path from there could include No.14 seed Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the third round, No.5 seed Shahar Peer in the quarters and one of No.4 seed Marion Bartoli, No.7 seed Nadia Petrova or No.11 seed Peng Shuai in the semis. Bartoli is coming off one of her biggest career finals at Indian Wells, Petrova is a former champion here and Peng is one of the hottest players of the season so far.

Among the notable unseeded players in the draw are Germany's Lisicki, who had a Cinderella run to this title two years ago; still working her way back from an injury-marred 2010, she is a wildcard this week. Also working her way back up this year has been former World No.4 Jelena Dokic, who won her first WTA title in over eight years in Kuala Lumpur last month - she could play No.9 seed Maria Kirilenko in the second round.

• Location: Charleston, USA
• Begins on: Saturday, April 10, 2010
• Draw Size: 56
• Surface: Clay/Outdoors
• Prize Money: $721,000 WTA
• Tournament Director: Bob Moran
• Official Website: http://www.familycirclecup.com/