Sony Ericsson WTA Tour : 2006


Indian Wells started today and Americans Advance on Day 1

Lisa Raymond led five Americans into the second round at the Pacific Life Open Wednesday. Also among the winners was Raymond\'s doubles partner, Samantha Stosur

Four players who have tasted the No.1 ranking will be in action at the $2,100,000 Pacific Life Open, the second Tier I event of the 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season.

Headlining the field as the top seed will be reigning Roland Garros champion Justine Henin-Hardenne. The 23-year-old Belgian has been near-perfect so far this season, winning two of the three events she has entered (Sydney, Dubai) and finishing runner-up at the other, after being forced to retire due to gastrointestinal illness (Australian Open). Her 14-1 record in 2006 is slightly better than her 9-2 career record at Indian Wells, which includes a title run in her most recent appearance two years ago. Henin-Hardenne will try and win her seventh consecutive match at the $2,100,000 event after a first round bye, as she takes on either Bulgarian teen Tsvetana Pironkova or Spanish veteran Virginia Ruano Pascual.

On the opposite end of the draw is Lindsay Davenport, the No.2 seed this week. Davenport has only played two tournaments so far this year, reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open (where she lost in three sets to Henin-Hardenne) and the semifinals at Dubai. Her 6-2 season record is dwarfed by an incredible 42-10 lifetime record at Indian Wells, which includes six trips to the final, capturing titles in 1997 and 2000. The American veteran has fallen in the final in each of the last three years (twice to Kim Clijsters, once to Henin-Hardenne). She will begin against Australian Open doubles winner Yan Zi or young compatriot Ashley Harkleroad in the second round.

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