By Erik Gudris | Monday, March 17, 2014

 

Top seed and defending champion Serena Williams will again be a strong favorite to repeat as the winner of the Sony Open Tennis event in Miami.

Photo Credit: Getty
 

World No. 1 Serena Williams goes for an unprecedented seventh Sony Open Tennis event title in Miami that starts main draw play on Tuesday.

Entering as the reigning defending champion, if Williams does reclaim the title it would make her the winningest player, man or woman, in the tournament's history.

Williams, whose last match was a losing effort in the Dubai semifinals, will open up her campaign against the winner of the Yaroslava Shvedova versus Francesca Schiavone first round match.

Possible opponents after that include No. 5. seed Angelique Kerber and No. 9 seed Sara Errani.

No. 4 seed Maria Sharapova, who made the finals last year, could face Williams in the semifinals this time.

But Sharapova will have to navigate her side of the draw that features No. 8 seed Petra Kvitova, No. 12 seed Ana Ivanovic and Indian Wells champion Flavia Pennetta.

Li Enters as No. 2 Seed While Radwanska is TBD.

No. 2 seed Li Na seeks to bounce back after losing in the Indian Wells semifinals. Possible quarterfinal opponents for the Chinese star in Miami include No. 7 seed Jelena Jankovic and No. 17 seed Sloane Stephens who could face off earlier.

The big question mark on this side of the draw is No. 3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska. The Polish star, who won Miami two years ago, injured her knee before the Indian Wells final that she then lost to Pennetta.

Though Radwanska is still listed in the Miami draw, her participation is up in the air. Notable players on this side of the draw include No. 6 seed Simona Halep who may face No. 29 seed and Dubai champion Venus Williams in an early round meeting.

Victoria Azarenka, a former champion, withdrew from the tournament due to an ongoing foot injury.

The complete women's draw can be found here.