Ana Ivanovic

Former world number ones Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters of Belgium will provide some early headaches for top seeds at the WTA Indian Wells tournament which begins Wednesday.

The 4.5 million-dollar event, played in conjunction with an ATP event that starts Thursday, also could see a potential third-round rematch of last year's final between defending champion Vera Zvonareva and 24th seed Ana Ivanovic.

Former world number one Justine Henin will have the top seeds looking warily over their shoulders when she continues her fairytale comeback at the Indian Wells WTA tournament starting on Wednesday.

The Belgian has reached successive finals since returning to the circuit in January after quitting the game in 2008 and lurks as a dangerous wildcard entry at the desert venue where she won the women's title in 2004.

Justine Henin has avoided drawing one of the top names in the early rounds as she prepares to play the third event of her comeback at Indian Wells

Henin, who is unseeded because she has not yet played enough tournaments to earn a ranking, would not meet a top four player until Elena Dementieva in the quarterfinals. The Belgian will begin against Magdalena Rybarikova, and also has Agnieszka Radwanska and Marion Bartoli in her section of the draw. Maria Sharapova or Caroline Wozniacki could await in the semifinals.

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour draw ceremony took place Monday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, and set up a potential third-round clash between the past two BNP Paribas Open singles champions – 2009 winner Vera Zvonareva and 2008 winner Ana Ivanovic.

Kuznetsova grabs No. 1 seed in women's BNP Paribas

The women's draw for the BNP Paribas Open sets up a potential third-round meeting between the past two tournament champions here, 2009 winner Vera Zvonareva and 2008 champ Ana Ivanovic.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is ranked No. 3 in the world, is the top seed for the women's tournament that begins Wednesday, but tournament director Steve Simon said this draw is one of balance across the board.

When Ana Ivanovic repaired to the locker room in the bowels of Madison Square Garden after losing a very close one-set semifinal tussle in the Billie Jean King Cup exhibition yesterday, her first words to Kim Clijsters, the woman who beat her, were: "I've never been introduced in a match as being a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model!"

Kim Clijsters returns to New York for the first time since her US Open victory to face Ana Ivanovic in a four-player exhibition Monday night for the Billie Jean King Cup at Madison Square Garden.

Serena Williams, who Clijsters beat in that final, had to withdraw from their matchup because of a leg injury.

"It's always disappointing when such a great champion pulls out," Clijsters said Monday at a news conference before the exhibition. "I'm sure she would have loved being here. I'm hoping she gets better and that we'll be able to see her in Miami."

Ana Ivanovic is heading back to Madison Square Garden.

The former No. 1-ranked player will play in the Billie Jean King Cup in New York on March 1. She also played in the one-night exhibition event last year.

"I feel honored to have the opportunity to come back to New York," Ivanovic said on a conference call from San Diego where she is preparing for next month's Indian Wells tournament in California.

Slumping Serbian former number one Ana Ivanovic Monday turned over what she hopes is a new page in her career by hiring Staffi Graf's former mentor Heinz Gunthardt as coach.

The Ivanovic management made the announcement, which brings to an end the number 23 player's coaching relationship with the adidas team, still her clothing sponsor.

Swiss television commentator Gunthardt, 51, guided Graf to a dozen Grand Slam titles.

Serbian tennis star back in action

Ana Ivanovic gave up on her appearance at the Dubai WTA tournament, but will be back in action on the first day of May. The Serbian tennis star is set to play at the Billie Jean King Cup, an exhibition event organized in New York’s Madison Square Garden, where she will be able to check up on her current form ahead of the North American WTA Tour leg.