MOSCOW, Oct 5: World No 2 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, who will top the rankings next week, heads a strong women’s entry at the Kremlin Cup, a joint WTA and ATP 2.4 million-dollar event, which gets underway on Monday.

Eight of the world’s top 10 players will join battle on the hardcourts of Moscow’s Olympic indoor tennis stadium.

Current world No 1 Serena Williams has withdrawn because of knee problems, while world number six Maria Sharapova of Russia also misses the event because of an injury.

Kremlin Cup champion Elena Dementieva, fourth in the WTA rankings, who won gold at the Beijing Olympics, is expected to defend her title.

Another Serbia player Ana Ivanovic, who is fifth in the world, and America’s Venus Williams, who is eighth in the rankings, are also in the seeds list here along with the squadron of local favourites.

Dinara Safina, third in the WTA table, Svetlana Kuznetsova, seventh in the world, Vera Zvonareva, who is ninth, were also seeded here along with the 2006 winner Anna Chakvetadze, who is currently 12th in the world.

Meanwhile, four top seeds in the WTA part of the tournament will enjoy their opening-round bye.

In the ATP section top seed and world No 6 Nikolay Davydenko will try to clinch his fourth (and third consecutive) title here.

The 2005 winner Igor Andreev of Russia, currently 20th in the ATP rankings and 2002 champion Paul-Henry Metthieu of France, 24th in the world, both seeded here, will also be in action.

Longstanding home favourite Marat Safin, who is still seeking his maiden singles title at his home court, and another Russia Davis Cup member Mikhail Youzny, were also in the seeded players’ list here.—AFP