Week #16 preview: Charleston & Estoril

Charleston (USA), Tier I, $1,340,000
The Tier I played on the green clay of Charleston will feature 5 Top 10 players. Defending champion Jelena Jankovic, Amelia Island champion Maria Sharapova and Miami champion Serena Williams will be the top contenders for the title. Elena Dementieva, Anna Chakvetadze, Dinara Safina, Vera Zvonareva and Agnieszka Radwanska are also candidates to reach the final rounds

Estoril (POR), Tier IV, $145,000
European red clay season heading to Roland Garros starts in Portugal with a mixed ATP & WTA event. Italian Flavia Pennetta will be the 1st seed and top favourite, as she has won 2 of the 3 red clay tournaments so far (Viña del Mar & Acapulco). Former Top 30 Lucie Safarova and Maria Kirilenko will try to get her best tennis back, while Portuguese teen sensation Michelle Larcher de Brito will play in front of her home crowd.