Paris

Draw here.

Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo may not be returning (excuse me while I have a moment to myself), but it’s still a pretty great draw. Serena has predictably withdrawn, so the top seed is Elena Dementieva, and it’s hard to see anyone in her quarter causing her too much trouble, unless Rezai puts in a Sydney-like performance in the quarters. Yanina Wickmayer is the top seed in the second quarter, but after reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and putting in a heroic performance in Fed Cup this weekend, it’s hard to see her having the energy for a deep run. Some great first-round matches in this quarter – Szavay-Govortsova, Oudin-Cirstea, and Schnyder-Razzano – and really anyone could come out here. Almost everyone seems due for a deep run.

By comparison the third quarter seems a little light, with Peer, Schiavone, Safarova and Cornet all coming off Fed Cup duty. I can’t see Bacsinszky or Paszek taking much advantage, though. I call a Peer-Schiavone quarterfinal. And in the fourth quarter, the big question is whether Kleybanova can build on a good Fed Cup performance to take out Flavia in the second round and kick on from there. I’m saying no, while Elena Vesnina has yet to do much of note in 2010.

Predicted champion: Elena Dementieva. She nearly won it last year, has had a good long rest after dropping early in the Australian Open and skipping Fed Cup, and this is the kind of tournament where she eats.

Pattaya City

Draw here.

Top four seeds are defending champion Vera Zvonareva, Licky, Vera Dushevina and Yaroslava Shvedova. Looking at Vera’s draw, it’s almost impossible to see her not defending. I just hope Licky can stay in long enough to make things interesting.

Predicted champion: Vera Zvonareva

Stay tuned to Nick’s Pick throughout the 2010 Australian Open for in-depth coverage of the tournament!

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)

Federer dismantled Lleyton Hewitt in the fourth round and since his tough first round match against Igor Andreev, Federer has looked brilliant. He has reached at least the semifinals in the last 22 consecutive majors, and of those 22, he has been to the finals of 17! That is truly remarkable.

Davydenko is making his fourth appearance in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, and is looking to reach the semis for the first time in his career. Davydenko is playing some of the best tennis of his career and this is a great opportunity for him to win his first Grand Slam title.

Match-Up:

Federer is 12-2 against Davydenko, but the Russian has beaten him the last two times they have faced including once already this year. There isn’t much in this match that I can break down for you because everyone knows how these two play. I cannot and will not give my man Mr. Federer a thumbs down, but what I will say is that he needs to be careful because the almost invisible man, Davydenko, is on a mission. I don’t care what time this match is on: WATCH IT!

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 4 sets

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)

Djokovic has progressed through the draw rather quietly and I think that’s a good thing for him. His focus needs to be on tennis and tennis alone for him to have a chance to get back to the finals of where he won his one and only Grand Slam title.

Tsonga played his first career five-set match in the fourth round, beating Nicolas Almagro 9-7 in the fifth set! Tsonga really seems to thrive down under, because this is the only Grand Slam tournament that he has been able to get to the quarters of. Can he repeat his great run of 2008 and get back to the finals?

Match-Up:

Tsonga is 4-2 against Djokovic, but Djokovic did beat him in the finals of the 2008 Australian Open. Djokovic is about as perfect technically in every aspect of the game as anyone. He seems to be focusing more on the tennis now than in the past and that is a big plus for him. On the other side, everything depends on Tsonga’s health. If he is feeling okay physically than this will be a match, if not, Djokovic will run him off the court. I give the advantage to Djokovic, but this has the potential to be a great battle.

Nick’s Pick – Djokovic in 4 sets

Andy Roddick (USA) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO)

Down two sets to one in the fourth round, Roddick dug deep and beat Fernando Gonzalez 6-2 in the fifth to advance. He’s been to the semifinals down under four times previously, including last year, but he has never been to the finals. Could this be the year that Roddick makes an appearance on the final Sunday?

Cilic took down fellow young-gun Juan Martin Del Potro in five sets to advance to the quarters of a Grand Slam for the second time in his career. Cilic certainly stepped his game up during the big points and with a win here, he will reach the semis of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Match-Up:

Roddick and Cilic have played twice, with each player winning a match. They most recently met back in 2008 at Canada with Cilic winning in three sets. Both of the quarterfinal matches on this half of the draw are tough to call, but I’ll do my best to break them down for you. Roddick is in fantastic shape, he’s getting a high percentage of his first serves in, he mobility is excellent, his slice is now a weapon, he is in control of his emotions and he is a fierce competitor. Right now, he is playing some of the best tennis of his life and I truly feel he could beat anyone at this point. On the other side, Cilic is also playing great tennis. He has monster strokes from both sides, has a sonic serve and is brimming with confidence. With the way Roddick is playing right now, and with his complete game I have to give him a slight edge.

Nick’s Pick – Roddick in 4 sets

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Murray is the only man left in the draw who has yet to drop a set and he has done so rather quietly. He beat John Isner in the fourth round and is into the quarterfinals of the Aussie Open for the first time in his career. Murray has now been to at least the quarterfinals in every single Grand Slam.

Nadal needed four sets to get past big-serving Ivo Karlovic in the fourth round. Karlovic was able to test Nadal, but the Spaniard had too much for him in the end. He has been to the at least the semis of six out of the last eight Grand Slams and anything less for him is a disappointment.

Match-Up:

Murray is 4-2 against Nadal, but has lost to him the last two times they have played. They actually met in the fourth round of the 2007 Australian Open and Nadal won that in five tough sets. Murray’s movement is off the wall, he is both fast and quick. He is able to turn defense into offense better than just about anybody, and that is what really makes him stand out above his competition. His return of serve remind me of Andre Agassi. He has a very short backswing and comes forward into the court as he hits the ball. I think he is darn close to having everything to winning a Grand Slam, but the one thing he needs a little more of is power on his driving forehand. Nadal hasn’t looked like the Rafa of old. He doesn’t seem to have the same pop on his forehand or his serve, but Nadal at 90% is better than most players at 100%. He still has the ability grind out points and use his strength to keep his opponents pinned back.

I really feel like the longer this match goes, the more it favors Murray. In the past, I would have said Nadal, but right now I think Murray has the edge. I am going to go with the Scotsman, but it is very close.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 or 5 sets

Fingertips’ Ian Shine explores the murky world of Eurosport’s Australian Open coverage…

I’m not one for sweeping generalisations, but I think it’s fair to say that Australians aren’t renowned for their razor sharp judgement. They drink Fosters, wear hats with corks on them and live in a country full of dangerous animals. Pretty daft on all fronts. This lack of discernment came to the world’s attention once more this week as the Australian Open, the year’s first tennis grand slam, got under way.

As the ball boys and girls tottered out wearing pink sweaters and matching pink dumbo-eared hats, you’d have been forgiven for thinking you’d ingested some kind of heliotropic drug. One ball boy apparently felt so humiliated wearing the clobber in public that he decided to wet himself in order to escape from view. The incident happened during a first round match between Donald Young and Cristophe Rochus, as Young explained to Tennis Fanhouse:

“A ball boy started peeing on himself. So that was really unfortunate.”

“I looked back and it was dripping on the court. He ran off. And when he ran off it left a trail on the court. Well, you can’t just keep playing a major tennis tournament with urine on the court. For one thing, it looks bad. But for another, the players could slip in it and get hurt.”

It took half an hour to remedy the spillage, but the ball boy at least escaped with some of his dignity still intact – even if his indiscretion will almost certainly lead to the necessity of counseling in later life.

Out of the frying pun into the fire

Eurosport is partial to punning at every punnable opportunity, yet it has really outdone itself with its coverage of the Australian Open.

First off is the absolutely abysmal “Justine Time”, in which Justine Henin is “tailed” in an attempt to give us an insight into her life at a grand slam. Given Henin’s status as one of the meekest characters on the tour, any revelatory and genuinely insightful details were always going to be at a premium. It’s a crying shame that Martina Hingis has retired.

The content is, as you’d imagine, fairly templated: Justine plays tennis; Justine wins; Justine comes to talk to Eurosport about her win; Justine goes to a hotel. Well done Eurosport.
After that we get “Game, Set and Mats”, in which Mats Wilander tries in vain to make viewers concentrate on that day’s tennis, rather than Annabel Croft’s increasingly skimpy outfits.

And some bad decisions by the players

Kim Clijsters might be regretting her tennis comeback just a little after it took Nadia Petrova 51 minutes to wipe her off the tournament’s roster with a 6-0 6-1 demolition in the third round.

As is his wont,Tommy Haas got fairly angry with himself in the latter stages of his third round clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Mental composure is 50% of the battle in professional tennis, and Haas’s lack of that means that he’ll be playing no further part in this year’s Australian Open.

And last of all, Elena Dementieva’s notorious ability for her serve to buckle at crucial moments saw her hit several unforced errors to twice toss away the advantage in a second set tie-break against Justine Henin and consequently go out in the second round.

For all your sport, whatever your sport…Fingertips.net.

New Columns on Fingertips this week…

Sarah Sole blogs on moving in with her boyfriend.

Mark Elliott on the resurgence of Journey.

Russian Elena Dementieva had the misfortune of drawing a second-round match against Justine Henin at the 2010 Australian Open. While the Belgian’s skills (and prior Aussie Open record) should have given her a high seeding, the tour’s ranking/seeding process hasn’t yet adjusted for Justine’s 20-month absence (which recently ended when she un-retired at the beginning of the year).

Too bad for Dementieva, since she was coming into the tournament with a 6-3, 6-2 title win over Serena Williams in Sydney. But we’re also not shocked, are we? Elena’s spent years and years flirting with her potential to be a trophy winner at a Slam, but something always seems to work against her (that serve, her head, a dark horse).

And there are a few other Russians hitting their stride this year., including Zvonareva, Kirilenko (squee!!), and Petrova (though Nadia can really be lumped in the same underachieving group as Dementieva). Will Elena be left in the dust, or is this her year to shine?

A demure dress: Compared to all the skimpy stuff she wore last year (hey, if I had gams like her, I’d wear the same!), the pale green Yonex dress seemed more proper. Or perhaps we’re all just distracted by Venus’s second homage to Borat — who knows? Still, we love the white Vs breaking up the solid block of color (but could have lived without that waistband).

Buy: Yonex Spring 2010 Dress, green/white, $69.95, midwestsports.com

(image via Getty Images)

TENNIS-OPEN.net, the official site of TENNIS GROUP, was the first in-depth tennis website which providing all contents on ENGLISH, FRENCH, SPANISH and ITALIAN language.

TENNIS ENGLISH: http://www.tennis-open.net
TENNIS FRANCAIS: http://www.tennis-open.net/?lang=fr
TENIS ESPANOL: http://www.tennis-open.net/?lang=es
TENNIS ITALIANO: http://www.tennis-open.net/?lang=it

Justine Henin upset 5th seed Elena Dementieva 7-5, 7-6 (6), by winning the last tree points of tiebreaker on the second round of the Australian Open

“I came here not (just) to pass the second round; I came here to be in the final,” Dementieva said. “You have to be ready facing Justine if you want to win the whole title.”

Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, ousted No. 12 Flavia Pennetta of Italy 7-6 (2), 6-1. on the third day of play at the Australian Open

012010 / Australian Open

Kim Clijsters won in a good match against Tanasugarn with 6-3 6-3 and Svetlana Kuznetsova and Caroline Wozniacki were winners as well today ,but it was all about one match. Justine Henin against Elena Dementieva. In a match on a very high level, Justine beat Dementieva 7-5 7-6. With Dementieva being in good form and Justine just coming back I did not expect this results, but it was clearly a good player against a real winner. Dementieva played good but not on the important points and Henin did just that. Henin’s first serve was not very good at all today(probably too much risk and being afraid of the Dementieva return) but otherwise she showed her great fighters spirit and very aggressive groundstrokes. Maybe Dementieva should have played a bit more risky herself and the match would have been hers. Henin proves again she is already back on a very high level! It is great to have her back on the WTA Tour. Pity this match was a second round though, Dementieva could have made the semi’s otherwise.

Justine Henin d. Elena Dementieva, 75 76(6)

I shall be frank; I didn’t see it yet, and apparently it was the greatest match ever or something. Thoughts?

It goes without saying, however, that this is a huge win for Justine and a big statement. I feel sorry for Elena, however. It sounds like she played incredibly well and still lost.

And as usual she was very classy in her presser. Really tough break for her.

As for Justine, let’s see whether she can keep up this form …

2nd round Australian Open

Stay tuned to Nick’s Pick throughout the 2010 Australian Open for in-depth coverage of the tournament!

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) vs. Iveta Benesova (CZE)

Zvonareva is shaking off an ankle injury, but showed no ill effects of that in her first round victory over Kristina Kucova of Slovakia. She lost only two games and looked like her old self. She reached the semis here last year, and a potential match with Ana Ivanovic looms in the next round.

Benesova comes into the tournament ranked #45 in the world and won her first round match in straight sets. She reached the third round here back in 2006 and that is her best result at any Grand Slam.

Match-Up:

Zvonareva is 2-1 against Benesova, having last beat her in 2008 on clay in Rome. Benesova is a good mover who is small, left-handed and capable of beating top players any day. Her serve is attackable and Zvonareva should be able to dominate play with her penetrating groundstrokes and devastating movement. The question is Zvonareva’s ankle. If she is healthy, she will go far in this tournament, if not, than who knows? I look for Zvonareva to advance.

Nick’s Pick – Zvonareva in 2 sets

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Sybille Bammer (AUT)

Venus quietly moved into the second round, beating Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-2. Her best result down under was back in 2003, when she reached the finals. The Australian Open and the French Open are the two Grand Slams that Venus has yet to win.

Bammer is a 29-year old veteran who comes into the tournament ranked #55 in the world. She has had solid results at Grand Slams in her career, reaching the quarters at the 2008 US Open and the fourth round at the 2007 French Open. Her best result at the Australian was back in 2006 when she advanced to the third round.

Match-Up:

Venus is 1-0 against Bammer with that win coming in the first round of the 2006 French Open. Bammer is a tough left-hander who will not go down without a fight. She has been around for a while and will not be surprised by anything Venus does. Venus will have to keep the unforced errors from the forehand side down to a minimum and keep her first serve percentage high. The court favors her game and when she comes to the net consistently she is very difficult to beat. I look for a tough two-set win for Venus.

Nick’s Pick – V. Williams in 2 sets

Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Elena Dementieva (RUS)

Playing in her first Grand Slam since the 2008 Australian Open, Henin looked as if she had never left, beating Kirsten Flipkens in straight sets. Henin certainly has the talent to pull a 2009 US Open-Clijsters-like-run, but we will have to see if her health holds up. Don’t be surprised if she is playing on final weekend!

It didn’t take long for Dementieva to win her first round match, as she beat Vera Dushevina 6-1, 6-2 to advance. She’s a former Aussie Open semifinalist, and is still looking for her first career Grand Slam title. There is no doubt that she has the talent, she just needs to stay focused mentally.

Match-Up:

This is the 12^th career meeting between Henin and Dementieva, with Henin holding a 9-2 advantage. This is the match that everyone has been looking forward to since the draw was announced. It is really a shame that one of these girls will lose so early in the tournament, but for the viewers it’s great. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: once the ball gets in play, there is no one better than Elena Dementieva. Her groundstrokes are unbelievable because of her fantastic movement, superb foundation and exquisite balance.  The question with her has always been her serve, and if that is on, she will be alright.

I know that most people will favor Henin in this match. She can do it all and hit every shot in the book. She hits the slice, the dink, the dunk, the dip, and her movement is unparalleled. All eyes are on her throughout the tournament as people want to see if she can emulate Clijsters’ return from last year. I just feel that the surface favors Dementieva and she has probably more match ready than Henin. If Dementieva’s serve falters at all, Henin will pounce all over her. I look for a very tight match, but I think Dementieva will come out the victor in the end.

Nick’s Pick – Dementieva in 3 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Katie O’Brien (GBR)

Jankovic had a solid win in the opening round, taking out Monica Niculescu 6-4, 6-0. She reached the semis here in 2008, but lost in the fourth round to Marion Bartoli last year. I have a feeling that Jankovic is going to fare better in 2010 than she did in 2009. She is focused, determined, and ready to roll.

O’Brien, currently ranked #87 in the world, is playing in her second career Australian Open main draw. She qualified last year before falling to Monica Niculescu in the first round. This is only the second time in her career that she has reached the second round of a Grand Slam.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between the 23-year old O’Brien and the 24-year old Jankovic. O’Brien is going to have her work cut out for her in this match. Jankovic spent her off-season training at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and I can guarantee you that she worked as hard as anyone on the tour to get back into the zone. She is physically fit, playing aggressive tennis, and her strokes are some of the best (especially her backhand). I just feel like Jankovic is on a mission this year and it is going to take a lot to stop her.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

Wow, what an eventful long weekend (and thank God for federal holidays and MLK!). I can’t even process how much The Major and I accomplished, from moving boxes to exercising, to taking engagement photos,  to cooking more amazing and healthy foods!

Unfortunately, our time management skills are going to face a challenge over the next 2 weeks because…the Australian Open started this week!!! We are super obsessed with both watching and playing tennis…this year I’m rooting hard for Elena Dementieva and Andy Roddick, both of whom are running out of time and youth to win a Grand Slam (or another Slam, in Andy’s case).

Elena turns 29 this year and still has no Major titles! This is your year!!

If not for Federer, Andy would have many more than 1 Major title! Go Andy!

I took a few photos of the gorgeous dishes we concocted but unfortunately have left my IPhone at home today, so you’ll have to envision their greatness:

First, for lunches, I took another recipe from www.ilunchbox.com – the Blueberry Chicken Salad. Ended up having to double the ingredients for the dressing as I think The Major chopped up more veggies than he was supposed to – but it looks amazing!

For quick dinners, we made a Lentil Stew, which I snacked on after my marathon singles match (which I sadly lost in 3 sets) last night and felt very satisfied with. Other than that, we made turkey burgers this weekend, and I attempted a healthy spinach dip…this dip was, well, it was just ok. For a healthy dip, it was stupendous – but when you’re substituting yogurt for creamy, oozy, cheesey goodness, you just can’t expect miracles.

And yes folks, you read it right, we had engagement photos made this weekend! My cutest-pregnant-lady-ever matron of honor is a budding photographer and generously offered to take some photos of us with her brand spankin new super-professional camera. We chose two locations, which, to The Major’s chagrin, necessitated two different outfits. What a great excuse for a shopping spree! The Major is in desperate need of some new shirts, so I went a bit buck wild at Filene’s on Friday. Of course the only shirts that he actually liked and fit well enough were the $4 clearance pullovers from Target…ah well, it’s a start anyway. I won’t go into detail about the photos so that it’s a surprise when I post them on the blog in a few weeks. Let’s just say we had a really fun time and I think the photos are going to be wonderful!

Despite wearing myself out in tennis, moving, and cooking yesterday, I dragged myself from the warm bed this morning for an upper body workout. I steered clear of working the legs as they were shot after the weekend and need to be fresh for tomorrow’s 6-miler. I did:

Chest: 5 sets on the chest press machine and 3 sets of girl pushups

Back: 5 sets on the lat pull machine (advanced motion) and 3 sets of dumbbell pullovers

Triceps: 5 sets of double-arm dumbbell presses and 3 sets of Gravitron tri dips

Biceps: 5 sets of double-arm dumbbell curls and 3 sets on the bicep machine

And strugged through a few ab workouts before stumbling to the showers…

Despite the pain and agony of this morning’s workout, it leaves me free and clear to return The Major’s unwanted items to Filene’s at lunchtime and attend a CDC happy hour after work! Yay for morning motivation!

Just a few quotes I liked from today’s press room action …

Q. What do you say to yourself now in order to recover, let’s say, psychologically from a defeat which is painful, I guess?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, that it’s a bad day and you have to get on with your life. You know, there are many worse situations in life. There are people that don’t even know what a tennis match is in the world.

You know, just a bad day. A bad day’s not going to stop me from doing what I love. I’m still gonna go back on the court and work hard and perform. I’ll be back here on a Saturday of the second week, so you’ll watch.

Actually the whole thing is brilliant. You should read it.

Q. Did you resent having to play qualifying?

YANINA WICKMAYER: What does ‘resent’ mean?

Q. Your boyfriend plays Federer. Have you had a word about how to take down the big guns?

MARIA KIRILENKO: Yeah, he had Federer and I have Sharapova. I think before the matches he said that we can start the year like loud, you know (laughter). And I already start the year loud, I think. So now his turn.

Q. You seem a bit slimmer than last year, a bit lighter.

RAFAEL NADAL: Can we bring scales tomorrow? Everybody ask me the same. If we bring something here, I gonna put… I have the same weight than last year. I weigh the same five years ago. I didn’t change.

Q. But you are playing well, too, now.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You’re asking me or you’re telling me?

Q. Telling you or asking you. Whatever.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Telling me. Thank you (laughter.)

Q. Did you take a tumble out there?

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I ran into one of those immovable objects called a referee. He wasn’t giving up any ground. I didn’t see him. He wasn’t really trying to do much to get out of the way.

Q. Has that ever happened to you before?

ANDY RODDICK: No. No. I don’t think so. Normally they see a player running full speed, they decide to at least move or catch the player. You know, I felt like he was trying out for WWE or something, just letting me go.

Despite the rain, the women got a great deal done today. In their varying fashions.

No fairytale repeat for Jelena Dokic; she was shown the door by Alisa Kleybanova, 61 75.

Wicky survived a marathon, rain-interrupted encounter with Alexandra Dulgheru to set up a second-round clash with …

… Flavia, who disposed of Anna Chakvetadze.

Also meeting in the second round? These two. Justine beat fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, 64 63, and Elena Dementieva demolished Vera Dushevina, 62 61.

And Dinara won.

Singles – First Round
(2) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 64 64
(3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 61 62
(5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Vera Dushevina (RUS) 62 61
(12) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 63 36 62
Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. (14) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 76(4) 36 64
(15) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (Q) Valérie Tétreault (CAN) 60 64
(24) María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) d. Evgeniya Rodina (RUS) 60 60
(27) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) d. Jelena Dokic (AUS) 61 75
(30) Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. Ioana Raluca Olaru (ROU) 62 76(6)
Zheng Jie (CHN) d. Peng Shuai (CHN) 06 61 62
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 62 64
Elena Baltacha (GBR) d. Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 64 36 75
(Q) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) 16 75 108
(Q) Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) d. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 64 46 62
(WC) Justine Henin (BEL) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 64 63

The roof in Melbourne is normally used for the heat but today they used it against the rain. On courts with no roof many matches were stopped or cancelled all together. Biggest upset of the day was Maria Sharapova losing against fellow country woman Maria Kirilenko(number 55 in the world) after a 3.5 hour battle 6-7 6-3 4-6.  At times Sharapova played good but overall it was pretty erratic again with 77 unforced errors. The service is still not working and basically has not worked since she came back from injury last May. From a weapon it has turned into a liability. Kirilenko, arguably the prettiest girl on tour, can play great tennis and she showed that for a change again in a major match. Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Elena Dementieva all won fairly easy in 2 sets leading up so a Dementieva-Henin second round match up. Way to early in the tournament because with Clijsters and Serena Williams they are the top favorites for the title in my opinion, but Henin is not seeded so that is why. I think Dementieva will win because she seems in great shape after an easy 2 sets win against Serena Williams in the finals at Sydney this weekend.

‘Thank god those two scintillating Belgians are coming to the party.’ Not a sentence you’ll have heard over the weekend, maybe: but no words could ring truer where women’s tennis is concerned. The spectacular return of Kim Clijsters late last year, promptly followed by the ‘unretirement’ of her nemesis in a neat skirt, Justine Henin, has given the ladies’ game a much needed shot in the arm. The 2010 Australian Open sees both Belgians contesting a slam for the first time since Wimbledon 2006, and should their paths cross it promises to be quite a tussle. Apart from that little subplot, the hordes of Russia are set for their customary assault on Fort Williams. It all looks quite interesting, indeed. So sit back, cuddle up with the nearest kangaroo and enjoy the action with iTc’s spookily accurate (maybe) guide to the ladies most likely to succeed ‘down under’.

The top eight seeds

1 Serena Williams (USA)

Age: 28
Best result: Winner ‘03, ‘05, ‘07, ‘09
Bookies say: 7/2 favourite
iTc predicts: Final day showdown

If it’s top dog you’re looking for, no one comes into this tournament with better pedigree than reigning champion Serena Williams. Both sisters save themselves for the bigger prizes these days, and Serena in particular is hard to deny when she has her sights set on glory. While there were injury concerns in her recent final defeat to Elena Dementieva, unless the problem is a serious one a kind draw means that she should be able to cruise through to a potential semi-final meeting with sister Venus or 4th seed Caroline Wozniacki. With the only other significant obstacles – the two Belgians – safely tucked in the bottom half of the draw, we fully expect Serena to still be involved on the final weekend.

2 Dinara Safina (Russia)

Age: 23
Best result: Finalist ‘09
Bookies say: 33/1
iTc predicts: semi-final

Dinara Safina reached number one in the the rankings last year – a feat that earned her nothing but disparagement, as if it was her fault to find herself at the top of a women’s game blighted by the retirement or indifference of its leading talents. Although she is yet to win a grand slam event, at 23 she has time on her side. The reappearance of Clijsters and Henin may mean a longer wait than expected, but Safina is still a cut above the majority of her peers – and the Australian Open, where she reached the final last year, offers an ideal opportunity to demonstrate her credentials. Her half of the draw is packed with the cream of Russia, but if she can get past Sharapova in the 4th round, she has the potential to test any of her subsequent opponents.

3 Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia)

Age: 24
Best result: QF ‘05, ‘09
Bookies say: 41/1
iTc predicts: 4th round

Kuznetsova is another former world number one from Russia: but whereas Safina is a three-time bridesmaid, Svetlana has sashayed down the grand slam aisle twice, in Paris and New York. Kuzzy’s form last year was patchy though, following a painful quarter-final defeat in the Australian Open to Serena Williams. Her misfortune this year is a draw that sees her play either Nadia Petrova or Kim Clijsters in round four. The winner of that match is likely to face Dementieva or Justin Henin, but it’s a fair bet Svetlana will no longer be involved by then.

4 Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

Age: 20
Best result: R4 ‘08
Bookies say: 22/1
iTc predicts: semi-final

Oh, sweet Caroline. The US Open runner-up certainly caught the eye in 2009, not least for her controversial retirement when leading 7-5, 5-0 against Anne Kremer in Luxembourg in October (her father and coach Piotr was heard instructing her to quit at that precise scoreline early in the set). The 20-year-old arrives in Melbourne having played only one match this year – a defeat to Na Li of China – and faces a potentially tricky first-round tie against Aleksandra Wozniak. If she survives that she faces a likely rematch with Li in round four; a lot depends on form, but there’s no doubt that this girl has the game to take her deep into the second week.

5 Elena Dementieva (Russia)

Age: 28
Best result: SF ‘09
Bookies say: 15/1
iTc predicts: quarter-final

Dementieva is a player that many fans – ourselves included – would love to see win a major. Elegant of movement and a crisp, powerful striker of the ball, the Russian has in the past been let down occasionally by a failure of nerve under pressure, often manifested in a breakdown of her serve. When she’s on form though, she can more than hold her own against the very best – as evidenced in her 6-3, 6-2 demolition of Serena Williams in the final of this week’s Medibank International in Sydney. As 4th seed, ‘only’ Justin Henin and Kim Clijsters stand in her path to the semis – but if Elena can surmount those two obstacles, this is surely her big chance.

6 Venus Williams (USA)

Age: 29
Best result: Finalist ‘03
Bookies say: 17/1
iTc predicts: quarter-final

It could be a completely mistaken impression, but sometimes it seems as though Venus Williams is simply too, well, mature, to despatch the hungrier competitors on tour. This is not a reference to her age, nor to any diminishing of her talent. It’s more a sense that the older Williams sister has gained a broader perspective on life beyond tennis and, in exchange, lost the focused will to win at all costs that seems to inspire Serena, for example. Last year saw Venus exit in round 2, and she will have to channel her inner brat from the outset if she is to progress much further this time round.

7 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)

Age: 20
Best result: R4 ‘09
Bookies say: 29/1
iTc predicts: quarter-final

At the age of 20, this is already Azarenka’s fifth Australian Open – and the Belarussian is making steady progress year on year. With a potential 4th round tie against Ivanovic or Dulko seeming likely, our money will be on Azarenka to go one better than last year and make the quarters.  After that though, she’s in Serena territory…let’s just hope she’s come loaded for elephant.

8 Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)

Age: 24
Best result: SF ‘08
Bookies say: 54/1
iTc predicts: 4th round

Of the ten former world number ones in the draw, Jankovic’s performance in this tournament is perhaps the hardest to predict with any degree of confidence. She has not strung together consecutive wins since October, and in general slipped a gear last year. All smiles with Jamie Murray, Jelena’s moods as well her form can blow hot and cold on court. The one thing we can say is that if she makes it through to a fourth round clash with Marion ‘Thunderclouds’ Bartoli, expect an unholy catfight and ‘evils’ to wither the leaves from the gumtrees.

The best of the rest…

14 Maria Sharapova (Russia)

Age: 22
Best result: Winner ‘08
Bookies say: 11/1
iTc predicts: 4th round

Sharapova knows what it takes to win here, having lifted the trophy in 2008, but the tabloid’s favourite has landed a tough draw this time. She opens against Maria Kirilenko, followed, probably, by another photogenic clash with Dominika Cibulkova in round three – both talented players to whom she has lost before. Given her fine form towards the end of last season, we think she’ll survive the first week and make it to a Russian ballet with the pirouetting Panzer, Safina, in round four – and then, no more.

15 Kim Clijsters (Belgium)

Age: 26
Best result: Finalist ‘04
Bookies say: 4/1
iTc predicts: Winner

After staging the mother of all comebacks to win last year’s US Open, how can Kim top that? It’s going to need a grand slam year, and this is the only place to start. If Clijsters is to even reach the final in Melbourne, it will only be by leaving a trail of crushed Russian dreams in her wake. Petrova, Kuznetsova and Safina are all sharpening their sabres to make Belgian bisque, and should Kim run that gauntlet, we think we know a certain American who’ll be waiting to ’shove that ****ing ball down her ****ing throat’. Now that is a rematch we’d stay up all night to see.

Justine Henin (Belgium)

Age: 27
Best result: Winner ‘04
Bookies say: 13/2
iTc predicts: 2nd round

Used to coming first, it will rankle with Justine Henin that Clijsters not only pipped her to the comeback, but went ahead and claimed the very first major she competed in. The number one spot may well be Justine’s for the taking this year, but as far as this tournament goes, her unseeded status and a punishing draw means she is unlikely to match her compatriot’s feat. A second-round battle with Dementieva awaits, and we don’t fancy her chances – but then, who’s to say the motto for this year won’t once again be ‘Never bet against Belgian’.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA was born on October 15,1981.she retained

Sydney title on january 15.It was her 15th career title.

Number 15 is represented by 6.Friday is symbolised by 6.

Elena was born in the Zodiacal Sign of Libra represented by Venus and

symbolised by 6

Russia’s Elena Dementieva defeated Serena Williams 6-3 6-2 at the Olympic tennis centre on Friday to win the Sydney International for the second year in a row.

I think she played well,” Serena Williams said, “I made about a thousand and two unforced errors … it’s better now than later, I guess.”

Elena Dementieva of Russia celebrates after winning the women's final match against Serena Williams of the USA .

2010 Mediabank International at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on January 15, 2010 in Sydney, Australia.

Liezel Huber of the USA and Cara Black of Zimbabwe won against Tathiana Garbin of Italy and Nadia Petrova of Russia @ the Mediabank International.

011510 / Medibank International

Elena Dementieva gets a big win in Sydney, but I’m not sure that will stop Serena Williams from taking the Australian Open Womens title. Nice win by Dementieva though, taking Serena quickly in two sets 6-2, 6-3. Williams may have injured her knee in the loss. She had 40 unforced errors in 17 games against Dementieva the 2008 Olympic champion. Dementieva will be on a high and that should make her a threat at the AO.

Find out more about the Australian Open and who is providing streaming video of the tournament.

Remember last year, when Dementieva won Auckland and then Sydney, beating Serena 63 61 in the semifinals? And then went on to Melbourne and got rolled over by Serena in the semifinals, 63 64? I’m just saying.

Elena Dementieva d. Serena Williams, 63 62

OK, that should be enough of a preamble to try not to get anyone’s hopes up. But what a great performance from Elena. Serena was obviously not in prime condition and her movement was restricted by a sore left knee, but she’s hardly an easy player to beat even in that state (just ask, oh, everyone ever who’s failed to put her away). And I hate to mention the ’s’ word, but Elena served and indeed rallied brilliantly.

Well deserved.

“I made about a thousand and two unforced errors.” - Serena Williams

Not one to mince words.

One second so classy, and the next …

… she’s about to go all Islington on you.

You’ve been warned, Justine.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 15: Elena Dementieva of Russia plays a forehand in her women’s final match against Serena Williams of the USA during day six of the 2010 Mediabank International at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on January 15, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Dementieva won the final beating Williams 6-3, 6-2. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

So it isn’t surprising that Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva will contest the Sydney final. It’s kind of surprising how it happened. Serena beat Aravane Rezai 36 75 64, and Elena beat Victoria Azarenka, 63 61. And yes, I did get those scores the right way round.

Poor Aravane. She played absolutely spectacularly to lead 63 52, and then Serena … was Serena. It’s just what happens.

The last time I properly watched Elena Dementieva, she was getting her ass absolutely handed to her by Licky in Perth. Something has clearly clicked between then and now, as she dismissed Victoria Azarenka in straight sets. I’m not sure whether to ascribe this to Azarenka being Azarenka, or Dementieva playing well. Either way, the scoreline looks very good for Demmy.

“WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!”

“….”

Singles – Semifinals
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. Aravane Rezai (FRA) 36 75 64
(5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (6) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 63 61

Doubles – Semifinals
(1) Black/Huber (ZIM/USA) d. Granville/Spears (USA/USA) 61 61
Garbin/Petrova (ITA/RUS) d. (4) Groenefeld/King (GER/USA) 63 75