It could be between Henin and Mauresmo

Dubai: Three-time winner and hot favourite Justine Henin is hoping to add a fourth title here when the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open gets under way at the Dubai Tennis Stadium from today.

Henin, who is here to defend the title she won last year, also took home the dhow trophy in 2003 and 2004. "I want to win here because I like this place a lot. This is like playing at home for me," Henin said while attending a press conference to launch a sponsorship tie-up between watchmakers Rolex and the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The pocket-sized Belgian holds the Dubai competition so close to her heart that she had originally planned to launch her comeback from the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open. However, she opted to start her resurgence at last week's Paris Open instead.

"Now that I am back on the Tour, I need to find my rhythm. I need to go about the task step by step and see how I can get back to winning ways," Henin said.

Earlier this year, Henin and Pierre-Yves Hardenne decided to part ways in life, forcing the Belgian to skip the Australian Open, which was won by comeback queen Serena Williams.

Private affair

Recently, Henin officially announced the news of her separation - asking the media for privacy to sort out their personal lives. "Things have happened and there have been ups and downs in the past few weeks. I have always believed that one is able to draw so much of positives from every experience, and that is probably why I grew up so quickly," Henin said.

"But right now, I am convinced I can take things one step at a time and win this title one more time," Henin stated.

"I can be a better player and a much better person."

Challenging her for a fourth title will be wild card and second seed Amelie Mauresmo, a finalist at yesterday's Antwerp Open, along with third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and former world number one and fourth seed Martina Hingis - the winner of the inaugural Dubai Open in 2001.

Others to watch for include the fiesty fifth seeded Jelena Jankovic - a finalist here two years back, sixth seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, seventh seeded Na Li of China - who won the doubles gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the fast improving Daniela Hantuchova.

Interestingly, the top four seeds have been given a first round bye, and all will play either against one of the four qualifiers coming through into the main competition or a player they have never lost against before.