By Simon Cambers

CINCINNATI, Aug 20 (Reuters) World number one Amelie Mauresmo and French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne will be hoping to fine tune their games ahead of the US Open when they headline a strong field at the New Haven Open in Connecticut.

While home-town favourite James Blake aims to defend his title at the traditional warm-up tournament for the US Open, most of the attention will be on the women as six of the top 10 are scheduled to play next week.

Lindsay Davenport, who returned to action earlier this month after four months out with a back injury, is the defending champion but she faces a tough test in a field which also features Russians Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova.

''When I saw the field, I was like, 'wow, I'm lucky to be seeded,''' said Davenport, who pulled out of last week's event in Montreal.

''It's been a long interesting road back. This was my target date from early July. It was always in the back of my mind.'' Davenport will play world number 24 Katrina Srebotnik of Slovakia in the first round, while Mauresmo, Henin-Hardenne, Dementieva and Petrova, as the top four seeds, receive a bye.

The American could play Mauresmo in the quarter-finals but said she was not looking that far ahead.

''Seriously, I am targeting winning one match here right now,'' she said. ''That's because I haven't won a match since March. If I get to that point, I will be very excited to play Amelie in that round.'' Mauresmo and Henin-Hardenne have not played since contesting the Wimbledon final and world number five Dementieva is the in-form player in the field after triumphing in Los Angeles.

In the men's event, Blake will be the big favourite having risen to number five in the rankings after winning the title in Indianapolis last month.

''I think if I win a match or two... I know I can play well on those courts,'' he said.

''Hopefully I'll do well like last year and go in (to the US Open) with that kind of confidence.'' REUTERS SK PM0529