Waiting for Serena

Serena Williams will steal the spotlight when she makes her return from an eight-month layoff here at the WTA and ATP Masters Series, but the men's field could produce more excitement.

The 6.5 million-dollar hardcourt event opens here Wednesday, but first-round byes for the 32 seeds in both the men's and women's draws will keep most of the sport's big names off the court until the weekend.

Williams, seeking her third title in a row here, plays her first match since beating older sister Venus in last July's Wimbledon final.

"I've been feeling the hunger," Serena Williams said.

Her wish will be granted, probably Friday, when she faces either Spanish qualifier Marta Marrero or American wild card Angela Haynes, a 19-year-old southpaw who like the Williamses began playing on public courts in Los Angeles.

Three-time defending men's champion Andre Agassi seeks his seventh Key Biscayne crown, but must contend with such challengers as Swiss world number one Roger Federer, fellow American Andy Roddick and Britain's Tim Henman.

Federer is on an astonishing hot streak, a 27-1 run with titles last year at Wimbledon and the Masters Cup and this year at the Australian Open and Indian Wells, where he dispatched Henman in last Sunday's final.

"Everyone is trying to catch up to him," Brazilian veteran Gustavo Kuerten said here Tuesday. "It has been a great run for three months already. The way he is playing, it's a different level from the other guys.

"You don't see this too often. Andre did this a few times and (Pete) Sampras was the greatest. I think he is surprising everybody the way he has picked up his level. I think the Masters Cup was a big tournament for him.