All eyes will be on the Kremlin Cup that begins on Saturday October 4^th. in Moscow. At least all those eyes that are particularly interested in Womens tennis, and the competition to see who finishes the season as the Number 1 player. The ladies draw includes all the top players, 19 out of the top 20, the only missing name is that of Maria Sharapova who is still recovering from her shoulder injury. Both Williams sisters are travelling to Moscow for this tournament. Serena reached the final in 2007 where she was beaten by defending champion Elena Dementieva. The Russian women players play better at home in front of their own fans, and this years tournament is shaping up as the best in years. The Kremlin Cup is not a Grand Slam event by a long shot, the total prize money is a scant $2.4 million, but this years interest in the ladies game has reached a peak of interest and could decide which one finishes the season on top. Interestingly the lady winner takes home $197,000 and the men’s winner $171,000!

Dinard Safina who has now made it all the way to Number 3 in the world, the highest ranked Russian player in the competition, might cap off her incredible season with another win, for a total of 4 in 2008, and become the best in her profession. If she does she would equal the feat of her brother Marat Safin as being the best player in the world.

She will be under enormous pressure from the home crowd to perform her best, and with such a strong field she will have to play back to back tough matches throughout the week. Three Russian ladies swept the medals at the Beijing Olympics, Elena Dementieva won gold, Dinara Safina won Silver and Vera Zvonareva won Bronze. They will be honoured for their performances during the opening ceremonies, and Dementieva who also has a shot at the top ranking position with a victory, might just produce the best tennis of her career and successfully defend her title.

But let’s not forget the Williams sisters. As the current number 1, Serena Williams has to considered the favourite and is seeded first. She played exceptionally well at home at the US Open, easily beating all her competitors except for Venus who she beat in two tie breaker sets. Will Dinara meet Serena again in Moscow, and can she find another level in her game to do better than she has in the past? It stacks up to be the best tournament of the year for the women, and the eventual winner will have the confidence needed to continue on into Australian open 2009 in Melbourne.

Nicolay Davydenko will defend his title on the men’s side, he is the highest ranked player in the competition which includes 8 other Russian men players. The lone American is Robby Ginepri, but the main competition for Davydenko might come in the form of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.