open, sererena is back this yea. seeded 17th,h, williamams has ay tough bracket to get through. she could face face her sister vevenus and currentnt world numr onone halep. american s sloane stephehens has welclcomed the return of serena. >> i think her being back isis vevery spealal, no matteter whae is ranked. she's always going to o be the best. so, i think that her being back is special and it is great. american tennis is really flourishing at the moment. especially women. reporter: on the men's side, rafa nadals talk favorites and his potential competition. >> i think it is n n clear -- the favorite. even when somebody thinks that someone is the clear favorite, from inside, doesn't look like this. so, of course, novak and roger, they are doing very well, esespecially -- lelet's see what is going o on. reporter: the action starts on monday. fans will be keen to see if the champions can retain their titles. host: ed king, a former guitarist for the rock band leonard skinner and cowriter of sweet home alabama has die d. he had been battling cancer. he helped create the triple