World number one Caroline Wozniacki has popped up at the Collector Swedish Open in Bastad this week, looking for a boost after a disappointing Wimbledon.
It's rare to see the world's best players competing the week after Wimbledon and for a world number one it's almost unheard of not to have at least a fortnight's rest ahead of the gruelling hard court swing to come.
However after disappointing early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon, Wozniacki was keen to get back on the match court as soon as possible. She will be strong favourite again this week, looking for her sixth title of the year. Wozniacki has had success in Bastad in the past, reaching the final two years ago and if she's at her best this week, there's no one in the field with the pedigree to stop her.
Her main challenger will be the experienced Italian Flavia Pennetta who had a disappointing time during the spring clay-court swing due to a shoulder injury. However Pennetta is adept at picking up points in these smaller clay events and is sure to go deep.
Aravane Rezai is defending champion but after that sparkling 2010 season which promised so much, Rezai has struggled to deal with the pressure this year and looks set for a big tumble down the rankings.
Look out for Lucie Safarova. The hard hitting left-hander can never been counted out on clay and finished runner-up to Wozniacki in Copenhagen last month.
