With a fantastic 2007 season glimmering in the past, what does 2008 have in store? Well, for one, the Australian Open is the start to the New Year. It’s the Grand Slam where everybody comes in fresh after a pretty long lay-off, and with the new surface change, things are looking very interesting!

Justine Henin, current women's world No.1 and 2004 Aussie Open champ, hasn’t played a warm-up events and has been doing her own preparations for the year's first Grand Slam. Even though she isn’t playing any tune-up events, Henin knows what it takes to win Down Under and is favourite to win her second Australian title.

The defending champion and three times winner, Serena Williams, is second favourite and comes to Melbourne this year with a point to prove. Serena has lost to Henin in the last three Grand Slam quarter-finals and is hoping to take her out at this Grand Slam. Serena is the best player on the Rebound Ace surface, but being that the Australian Tennis Federation have switched to a lower bouncing and faster surface, how will she adapt? She has played one warm-up event, the Hopman Cup, where she performed well, but she doesn’t look as if she likes the change in surfaces.

‘The older Williams sister is confident and looks hungry; she's right up with Henin and Serena...”


Big sister Venus, a finalist in 2003, arrives in Melbourne with one goal in mind – to win one of the two crowns that have eluded her. Venus is riding a wave of success and confidence from her glorious second half to the 2007 season, which saw her capture her fourth Wimbledon title, make it to her seventh US Open semi-final and climb back into the top 10.

Venus just might benefit the most from the surface change, She has never been at her most comfortable on slower surfaces but plays her best when the ball moves through the court. Venus did play an exhibition tournament that featured Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Anna Chakvetadze, powering her way to the title without losing a set, including a straight sets win over Sharapova. The older Williams sister is confident and looks hungry; she's right up with Henin and Serena in the top three favourites for the Aussie Open.

Russian golden girl Sharapova, two-time semi-finalist and last year's losing finalist, is looking to recapture some of the glory that she lost in 2007, when she suffered many defeats that were damaging to her psyche. They included the 6-1 6-2 demolition by Serena Williams in Melbourne. But as she has openly stated, last year is behind her and totally forgotten, and she’s looking to win at all costs!

Sharapova, like Serena and Henin, benefited most by the Rebound Ace surface’s high bounces, but she won’t be that affected by the change because she isn’t too shabby on the faster surfaces either. She is just behind the trio of top contenders.

Two players who won’t win this year’s tournament, but who will make a lot of noise, are Serbian duo Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic. Jankovic, with her big backhand and superb movement, can test anyone on the court, but that weak serve needs working on if she wants to win a major. Ivanovic, on the other hand, has a huge forehand and big serve and can blast just about anyone off the court, but with her movement being as big a weakness as it is, it will continue to hinder her chances of collecting a Grand Slam title.

There are, realistically, four dangerous floaters and the one in particular nobody wants to play is unseeded Lindsay Davenport. The other three dangerous floaters are world No.11 Elena Dementieva, 2006 Aussie Open champ and world No.18 Amelie Mauresmo, and world No.6 Chakvetadze. Now, how can a top 10 player be a dangerous floater? Well, when you have no realistic weapons and haven’t really challenged for a major, you’re labelled a dangerous floater, and that’s exactly what Chakvetadze is. Oh, and we shouldn't forget world No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova. She had a consistent 2007 and is looking a capture Grand Slam No.2.

Although there are three real clear-cut favorites to win the Australian Open – Henin and the Williams sisters – nothing is a guarantee. With the right draw anyone can come through and win. One side of the draw could be loaded with all the contenders, like last year's US Open. So, with that being said, let’s get ready for a fantastic 2008 and a stellar Australian Open!