Defending champion and world no. 1 Serena Williams is looking to successfully defend her Australian Open title for the first time, not doing so the previous three times. She is nursing a minor injury, but on paper she should be able to make it into the semifinals. Last year's quartefinalist Carla Suarez Navarro is a possible third rounder with Aussie favorite Sam Stosur waiting in the fourth round. According to seeding, Williams can then face Victoria Azarenka in the quarters but more likely it will be former finalist Ana Ivanovic or last year's semifinalist Vera Zvonareva.
On the same side of the draw as Serena is her sister and 6th seed Venus Williams. She has a tough first round match with former quarterfinalist Lucie Safarova. 10th seed Agnieszka Radwanska awaits her in the fourth round. They are in 4th seed and US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki's quarter. She should get into the second week pretty easily with a potential matchup with Shahar Peer in the third round and either Daniela Hantuchova or Na Li in the fourth round. Other names to watch out for is American sensation Melanie Oudin and Anabel Medina Garrigues.
Belgians and Russians rule the other half especially in 3rd seed Svetlana Kuznetsova's quarter. Her most likely fourth round opponent will be US Open champion Kim Clijsters. 5th seed Elena Dementieva and former Australian Open champion Justine Henin look to meet in the second round. They are meeting so early because Henin is playing in her first Grand Slam tournament since retiring less than two years ago and is therefore unseeded. Henin could potentially meet Clijsters in the quarters for a rematch of their Brisbane finals. A few other players to consider are Virginie Razzano, Flavia Pennetta, and Nadia Petrova.
Last year's finalist and 2nd seed Dinara Safina will again begin her quest to nab that maiden slam. Based on past results, she should get through to the fourth round where she will either face Dominika Cibulkova or more likely former Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova. Whoever gets to the quaterfinals will have to contend with Jelena Jankovic who is also trying to get her first Grand Slam title.
Semifinals:
Serena Williams d. Caroline Wozniacki
Kim Clijsters d. Jelena Jankovic
Finals:
Kim Clijsters d. Serena Williams
Love Clijsters and Williams about equally, but if you prediction works out, I'll have to root for "Moms" to win it, to bring her slam tally up a bit.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing "Moms" is Clijsters? Heh. Clijsters definitely has a tough quarter, but if she can beat Dementieva or Henin in the quarters, I think she can get the title even if Serena is across the net in the finals.
ReplyDeleteThough I have to confess, I'm a bit rubbish when it comes to predictions. I'm especially bad with the WTA and only slightly do better with the men.
Oh, yeah Dementieva. It sure would be nice to finally see her break through and go all the way at a Slam. At least she has those Olympic medals to show her grandkids.
ReplyDelete