By Neil Schmidt
Enquirer staff writer

MASON - An All-American matchup and the Molony sisters' doubles debut highlight today's opening of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open.

Mashona Washington, a Detroit native ranked 78th, will face fellow American Marissa Irvin, ranked 84th, at 7 p.m. on Center Court. Washington, sister of former men's star MaliVai Washington, is at 28 enjoying her career high in the rankings.

Irvin, 24, won the 2000 Honda Award while at Stanford as the nation's best college tennis player.

Four weeks ago, as a "lucky loser" who got into the Stanford draw, Washington beat Irvin 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 en route to the quarterfinals, where she lost to Lindsay Davenport.

Northern Kentucky's sister act, Kara Molony-Hussey and Lyndsey Molony, were given a wild card into the doubles main draw.

They will follow the 7 p.m. singles match on Center Court, facing Jennifer Russell and Mara Santangelo.

Russell, an American, has a doubles ranking of 88th, and her Italian partner ranks 93rd.

The Molony sisters have teamed to win five Thomas E. Price Metropolitan Championship doubles titles.

Just two seeded players are in action today, but those are intriguing matches.

Fourth seed Marion Bartoli of France will open against Maria Kirilenko, a 17-year-old Russian who nearly beat Serena Williams at the French Open.

Eighth seed Marlene Weingartner, facing rising 18-year-old Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland, will have to regroup quickly after the disappointment of the German Olympic Committee's decision not to send her to the Olympics.

Four final-round qualifier matches begin today's schedule. Those winners will open main-draw play Tuesday or Wednesday.

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com