Tokyo: Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova will return to Tokyo as top seed at the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament starting on January 30, organizers said Thursday. The 2005 winner captured her first WTA singles and doubles titles in Tokyo, at the 2003 Japan Open.

The two-times grand slam winner's defense of the Tokyo indoor title last year was ended by former world number one Martina Hingis of Switzerland in the semi-finals.

Hingis, now 26, is expected to be seeded second, ahead of Elena Dementieva of Russia, who enjoyed her biggest career victory in the tournament last year.

Other prominent players include the Serbian duo of Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic, Francesca Schiavone of Italy, and Marion Bartoli of France, who won her third career title at the Japan Open in October.

Looking forward to the Beijing Olympics at home, Li Na, who reached her career-highest position of 20th in August, is a top Chinese hope, along with Australian Open and Wimbledon doubles champion Jie Zheng.

Japan will have former doubles world number one Ai Sugiyama and wild card entrant Erika Takao in the 1.34 million dollar tournament, vying for the top prize of 196,900 dollars.