By Neil Schmidt
Enquirer staff writer

MASON - Two of the top three seeds and three of the top six in the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open are Americans.

In a field that includes players from nine countries, 10 of the 26 players already in are Americans; the last four spots will go to qualifiers.

"It'll be fun to see these Americans," tournament director Bruce Flory said. "TV focuses on the Williams sisters and (Lindsay) Davenport, but there are other good players we don't get to see too often."

IF YOU GO

What: Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. Where: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Mason. Qualifier: Today, 10 a.m. ($5 adults, kids 14 and under free). Main draw sessions (loge/terrace prices in parentheses): Monday, 11 a.m., 7 p.m. ($22/$12, kids 14 and under are $6); Tuesday-Wednesday, 11 a.m., 7 p.m. ($22/$12); Thursday, 4 p.m. ($24/$15); Friday, 4 p.m. ($26/$18); Saturday, 3 p.m. ($28/$20); Sunday, 1 p.m. ($32/$22). Tickets/info: 513-651-0303; www.cincytennis.com.

Davenport was named the top seed when the draw was announced Saturday. With a first-round bye, she will first see action Thursday night in a second-round match.

The other top Americans are third-seeded Amy Frazier, ranked 25th in the world, and sixth-seeded Jill Craybas, ranked 59th.

They're in the same half of the draw as second-seeded Vera Zvonareva; the Russian drew the other bye.

Elena Bovina, a Russian ranked 19th who would have been the third seed, pulled out.

Four first-round matchups stand out.

Fourth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France will open against Maria Kirilenko, a 17-year-old Russian who nearly defeated Serena Williams at the French Open. Fifth-seeded Denisa Chladkova of the Czech Republic faces American teen Ashley Harkleroad.

Seventh-seeded Flavia Pannetta of Italy, who won her first WTA title Saturday in Sopot, Poland, will open against American Teryn Ashley, 25. Two more Americans, Marissa Irvin and Mashona Washington, will play each other.

The last wild card went to Lilia Osterloh, a Westerville, Ohio, native ranked No. 134. She opens against a qualifier; the winner of that match plays Davenport.

Twenty-two of the 26 players already in the field have top-100 rankings, an improvement on the 10 top-100 players in the most recent women's tourney here, the 1988 Pringles Light Classic.

WESTERN & SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP WOMEN'S OPEN

Saturday's Results
Singles Qualifying
First round

Severine Beltrame (1) def. Anzela Zguna 6-2, 6-3.
Liga Dekmeijere def. Aneta Soukup 6-0, 6-2.
Salome Devidze def. Tetiana Luzhanska 6-0, 6-3.
Andreea Vanc def. Jennifer Hopkins 7-5, 7-5.
Yuliana Fedak (2) def. Whitney Jones 6-3, 5-7, 6-0.
Julie Ditty def. Amber Liu 6-1, 6-4.
Antonella Serra Zanetti (7) def. Meilen Tu 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Elena Tatarkova def. Elizabeth Freeman-Young 6-1, 6-0.
Kelly McCain (8) def. Varvara Lepchenko 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Delia Sescioreanu def. Kara Molony-Hussey 6-0, 6-1.
Leanna Baker def. Beau Jones 6-2, 6-2.
Stephanie Foretz (5) def. Francesca Lubiani 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Sunday's Schedule
Singles Qualifying
CENTER COURT
Starting at 10 a.m.
Severine Beltrame (FRA) (1) v. Liga Dekmeijere (LAT)
Shuai Peng (CHN) (4) v. Anousjka Van Exel (NED)
Elena Tatarkova (UKR) v. Kelly McCain (USA)
Julie Ditty (USA) v. Antonella Serra Zanetti (ITA) (7)

GRANDSTAND COURT
Starting at 10 a.m.
Salome Devidze (GEO) v. Andreea Vanc (ROM)
Amy Dillingham (USA) v. Janet Lee (TPE)
Svetlana Krivencheva (BUL) v. Adrianna Serra Zanetti (ITA) (14)
Yuliana Fedak (UKR) (2) v. Amy Dillingham (USA) or Janet Lee (TPE)

COURT 3
Starting at Noon
Leanne Baker (NZL) v. Stephanie Foretz (FRA) (5)
Shuai Peng (CHN) (4) or Anousjka Van Exel (NED) v. Delia Sescioreanu (ROM)

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com