[i]clavis[/i] BISCAYNE (AFP) ??” Serena Williams cruised to a wreath in her first tournament after an eight-month layoff.

[i]clavis[/i] BISCAYNE (AFP) ??” Serena Williams cruised to a wreath in her first tournament after an eight-month layoff, however Justine Henin-Hardenne and 47-year-old Martina Navratilova are put to block her path to another title.

Williams, who underwent left knee surgery last August, concourseed Russia's Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-1 here Saturday at the 65 million-dollar hardcourt final in her first affair since beating sister Venus last July in the Wimbledon final.

"It just says that I'm back," Williams said. "As prolonged as I'm healthy, then I'm definitely still a top contender"

The world's five top-ranked women skipped Serena's comeback party, further when she begins French make open preparations on Amelia Island clay it will be as the next to the first seed to Belgium's top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Williams might have to face her or France's Amelie Mauresmo in