Jankovic, Stosur Lead Seeds In San Diego

In 2008 and 2009, fans of women's tennis in San Diego got hungrier and hungrier for more as the loyal Sony Ericsson WTA Tour stop was discontinued. But that's over now as the Mercury Insurance Open takes place for the first time in what is commonly known as America's Finest City. World No.2 Jelena Jankovic headlines the field. With a wealth of success in summer hardcourt seasons past, Jankovic has to be a strong favorite for the title, although recent injury woes - a back injury at Wimbledon, an ankle injury two weeks ago in Portoroz - may mean she will need a few matches to find her best form. After a first round bye, the No.1 seed will begin against Aravane Rezai or Alisa Kleybanova, both of whom have beaten her before.

World No.5 Samantha Stosur is the No.2 seed and also got a first round bye, beginning her week against Victoria Azarenka or Melanie Oudin. Stosur continued to rise up the rankings in the spring, her year so far highlighted by making her first major final at the French. She may have a tough time with Azarenka - the Belarusian has never lost a set to her in four meetings, the most recent coming just this weekend in the semifinals of Stanford.

Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva, playing for the first time since that magical run to her first Grand Slam final, and Top 10 stalwart Agnieszka Radwanska are the No.3 and No.4 seeds, respectively.

Flavia Pennetta and Marion Bartoli - who have both spent time in the Top 10 as well - and Shahar Peer and Yanina Wickmayer round out the Top 8 seeds. Other dangerous floaters include former No.1s Dinara Safina and Ana Ivanovic and two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.