Kim Clijsters To Begin Title Defence Against Arn

Kim Clijsters will get the defence of her U.S. Open crown underway against Hungarian player Greta Arn. The Belgian won the title twelve months ago on her return to the sport.

Twelve months on and she is the second seed at the 2010 tournament and one of the favourites to possibly win the title with Serena Williams out because of injury.

Clijsters finds herself in the same half of the draw as Samantha Stosur, Daniela Hantuchova, Elena Dementieva and Marion Bartolli and could potentially meet British number one Elena Baltacha in the third round.

Clijsters has enjoyed some good form in the run up to Flushing Meadows as she picked up the title in Cincinnati but did struggle with a thigh injury at the Roger's Cup in Montreal last week.

But along with the top seed Caroline Wozniacki she is the one to beat. The Dane looks to go one better than runner up twelve months ago and she faces American wildcard Chelsey Gullickson in the opening round.

Wozniacki has a tricky draw as she finds herself in the same quarter of the draw as Svetlana Kutnetsova and Maria Sharapova, she could meet the latter in the fourth round.

Fourth seed Jelena Jankovic is a possible semi final encounter and the Serb will get her campaign underway against Simona Halep. Also in her quarter of the draw is Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva, Nadia Petrova and Agnieszka Radwanska.

Venus Williams has been out of action since Wimbledon due to injury as she makes her return to action against Roberta Vinci. In the same half of the draw as Clijsters, who she could meet in the semis, she has Flavia Pennetta, Shahar Peer and Victoria Azarenka in her quarter of the draw.

U.S. Open gets underway 30th August.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw