The top half: The top half of the draw features the likes of 2004 champion Justine Henin, three-time champion and defending champion Serena Williams, 2000 champion Lindsay Davenport, last year’s finalist Maria Sharapova, 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo and world No.3 Jelena Jankovic. Talk about loaded!

The bottom half: This is much weaker, but still has some key contenders for the title. 2003 finalist Venus Williams, world No.4 Ana Ivanovic, world No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova and world No.6 Anna Chakvetadze are all in the bottom half, searching and hoping for glory in Melbourne.

The 1st quarter: World No.1 Henin leads the pack in this daunting quarter. Henin should have a pretty easy time getting to the quarter-finals where she would encounter Davenport or Sharapova, although Henin’s projected 4th round opponent ,Tatiana Golovin, might have something to say about that. Most people would pencil Sharapova into the quarters, but she has a blockbuster showdown with Davenport in the 2nd round. Although there is stiff competition in this quarter, look for Henin to move through to the semi-finals comfortably.

‘Venus takes long lunges and gallops to the ball; nobody gobbles up the court like Venus Williams. Justine, on the other hand, moves swiftly around the court as if she’s dancing.’


The 2nd quarter: This section is led by defending champ Serena Williams and it is by far the toughest section of the draw. Jankovic, Mauresmo and Nicole Vaidisova are all bidding to take the title from Serena. Vaidisova is Serena’s projected 4th-round opponent – that’ll be a tough match but they played last year at this tournament and Serena won pretty easily. Jankovic has just won an epic 1st round match against rising upstart Tamira Paszek 12-10 in the final set. She will have a potential showdown with Mauresmo in the 4th round and Mauresmo knows what it takes to win in Australia. The winner of that contest would face Serena in the quarters. Expect Serena to make another appearance in the semi-finals of the Aussie Open.

The 3rd quarter: Venus Williams and Ivanovic lead this quarter and although both of them are favourites to make it to the quarters they will be facing stiff opposition through the first week. Venus’s projected 3rd round opponent is Sania Mirza, but she should win that in two easy sets. Then Venus would run into either her Wimbledon finalist opponent Marion Bartoli or Na Li of China. Either way, no matter who she plays, Venus should walk through to the quarters. Now, as for Ivanovic, she has a pretty easy time to the quarters where she would run into her Wimbledon and US Open slayer Venus. Look for Venus to sprint through this section without losing a set.

The 4th quarter: This part of the bottom half features Kuznetsova and Chakvetadze. This is by far the weakest quarter. Both Kuznetsova and Chakvetadze should stroll into the quarters where they will collide. These two played at last year's US Open in the semi-finals and it was Kuznetsova who held her nerve to reach her second US Open final, but look for Chakvetadze to get revenge and keep her nerves in check and overcome Kuznetsova in  three sets to make it to the semi-finals.

Semi-Finals: Henin vs. Serena Williams; Venus Williams vs. Chakvetadze

In the first semi-final, you’ll see two bitter rivals face off again for the fourth time in 11 months, with Henin supreme in their previous meetings. Serena will relish the fact that they are playing on her turf, and she’ll be looking to gain control over their rivalry, breaking the tied series. It’s tough to pick a winner, but this match is in Serena’s hands. If the focused and controlled Serena shows up, then she'll win, but if Serena doesn’t wake up on the right side of the bed, she will once again bow to the No.1 player in the world. Expect Henin to win in a tight three-setter.

The other semi-final features the older Williams sister, Venus, who plays Russian Chakvetadze. Venus will be trying to get back to her second Australian Open final, whereas Chakvetadze will be trying to get to her first Grand Slam final. These two gifted athletes have played twice before, both last year. Venus won the first one fairly easily in the Fed Cup, but Chakvetadze rebounded and beat Venus in San Diego in three sets where Venus had a match point. Look for Venus to win in two sets, based on the fact that she has the experience.

The Championship: Venus Williams vs. Henin

Now, the final between Venus and Henin is in a class of its own! These two marvellous tennis player both move so gracefully but in different ways. Venus takes long lunges and gallops to the ball; nobody gobbles up the court like Venus Williams. Justine, on the other hand, moves swiftly around the court as if she’s dancing. Both control the court so well; Venus with the power and Henin with the variety. So, who wins? I think, this time around, you have to give the edge to Venus. The only time they played in Australia was in the 2003 semis and Venus won handily. Venus will be looking to avenge her US Open loss to Henin. Venus Williams will win the Australian Open for the first time, beating Justine Henin in a thrilling final.