Currently ranked No.27, Dulgheru is, in fact, the highest-ranked top seed in the history of the $220,000 tournament. While that - not to mention her track record as a two-time winner of the Premier-level Warsaw Open - makes the 21-year-old a firm favorite, the Tashkent debutante is taking nothing for granted.

"I'll try to give my best," said Dulgheru at Saturday's draw ceremony. "Winning is important but settling down in a tournament is equally important, particularly after playing any Slam event."

Uzbekistan's own Akgul Amanmuradova is back as the No.2 seed, and hoping to go one better than her two runner-up finishes at her home event, in 2005 and last year. Twelve months ago the statuesque 26-year-old was beaten by Shahar Peer in the final, and with a recent win over Jelena Jankovic under her belt, the world No.60 should be confident of another good run.

Former top tenner Anna Chakvetadze, who won her eighth title at Portoroz in July, is the No.3 seed while another Russian, Elena Vesnina, is seeded fourth. Monica Niculescu and Magdalena Rybarikova are the No.5 and No.6 seeds respectively, while two players coming off good weeks in Guangzhou round out the list: Alla Kudryavtseva, who was runner-up in the Chinese city, is the No.7 seed while Italy's Maria Elena Camerin, a quarterfinalist, is No.8.

Wildcards have been awarded to Nigina Abduraimova, Alina Abdurakhimova (at 15, the youngest player in the draw) and 16-year-old Sabina Sharipova, all of Uzebekistan.

Niculescu and Jill Craybas are top seeds in the doubles competition.