Week #15 preview: Charleston, Barcelona

Charleston (USA), Premier, $1,000,000
After the withdrawal of her sister Serena, Venus Williams will be the main favourite to win the title in Charleston, the only Premier event played on green clay. Russians Elena Dementieva, Vera Zvonareva and Nadia Petrova, and Pontevedra Beach champion, Danish Caroline Wozniacki will be the major threats for Williams.

Barcelona (ESP), International, $220,000
The 2nd consecutive tournament in Spain presents a very open draw, where it is very hard to predict a possible winner. Top-20 players Alize Cornet and Flavia Pennetta will be the top seeds and main favourites, but local player and runner-up in Marbella last week Carla Suarez will count with the crowd support. Title-holder Maria Kirilenko, Estonian Kaia Kanepi, Italian Sara Errani and Romanian Sorana Cirstea should be also taken into account, as well as the rest of Spanish players with special attention to Nuria Llagostera and Bogota champion Maria Jose Martinez.