Capriati, the top seed from the United States, has not played since her thrilling three-set triumph over Martina Hingis of Switzerland in Melbourne last month. She saved four championship points and rallied from a one-set, 0-4 hole to win her second straight Australian Open title and her third career Grand Slam crown.

The 25-year-old Capriati, who trails new world No. 1 Venus Williams by just six points in the WTA Tour rankings, was a semifinalist here last year.

Seeded second this week, Hingis put her Australian Open disappointment aside earlier this month by winning her second title of the year at the Pan Pacific Open and is 14-1 this season. She reached the final here two years ago, but the final was cancelled due to rain.

Third-seed Serena Williams of the United States will participate in her first tournament in more than a month. She reached the the semifinals in Sydney the second week of the year but injured her ankle and has been sidelined since.

Rounding out the top four seeds, who recieved byes into the second round, is hometown favorite Meghann Shaughnessy. The Scottsdale resident opened the season by advancing to the final in Sydney. Last year, Shaughnessy lost the final here to Lindsay Davenport, 6-2, 6-3.

On Monday, seventh seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy plays Elena Likhovtseva of Russia, No. 8 Daja Bedanova of the Czech Republic faces Russian Elena Bovina, and American Jennifer Hopkins squares off against France's Nathalie Dechy.

The champion receives $93,000.