Serena Williams hasn’t played much tennis so far in 2008, but even with only two tournaments under her belt she will be one of the favourites to hit the high spots in the Bangalore Open in India this week.

She played in a team tournament in Perth and won the mixed doubles title partnered with Mardy Fish. They took down Serbia in the mixed final. But she failed to defend her Australian Open title, falling at the quarter-final stage to Jelena Jankovic in straight sets.

But since then she hasn’t played any events, due to dental surgery and a scheduling conflict. Coming into the Bangalore tournament she will need to shake off the rust early on if she wants to makes the later rounds, let alone the final.

'Jankovic started the New Year in terrific form, making the finals in Perth with partner Novak Djokovic'


Through the first rounds she shouldn’t face much trouble, possibly playing Tzipora Obziler in the second round, Sybille Bammer in the quarter-finals and possibly an intriguing showdown with sister Venus in the semi-finals. If she can make it through that hurdle she could take on Jankovic or even Patty Schnyder for the women’s title.

Even though Venus has played more tennis this year than her younger sister, her season hasn’t been much more productive. She travelled to Hong Kong for an exhibition tournament and was in great form, destroying Maria Sharapova in the final, and teaming up with Caroline Wozniacki to take the doubles crown.

After withdrawing from the 2007 Australian Open, Venus was eager to have a good showing in Melbourne but, like her sister, she bowed out in the quarter-final to Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic. Since then she has only managed one win in two events, falling to Dominika Cibulkova in Doha , and Petra Kvitova in Memphis where she failed  to defend her title.

Making her debut in India, she enters with a huge question mark over her form. She will need to make a big change if she wants to get out of this slump. In the second round she could face China’s Shuai Peng, and then seventh seed Vera Zvonareva in the quarter-finals. If she is in good form sister Serena lays in wait in the semi-finals, so she needs a dramatic improvement to win her first title of the year.

Jankovic started the New Year in terrific form, making the finals in Perth with partner Novak Djokovic. Even though this tandem seems unstoppable, Jankovic ran into a slight snag when she injured her leg. But the resilient Serbian didn’t hold anything back during the eight-nation event.

She stormed her way through the Australian Open draw, taking down Serena Williams before succumbing to Maria Sharapova, in the semi-finals. Although she still has to win a title, Jankovic continues to stay extremely consistent. As the top seed this week, she shouldn’t face much trouble until a possible semi-final clash with Patty Schnyder and, even more exciting, a final match-up with one of the Williams sisters.

Not only will the singles event keep fans enthralled, but the doubles will do just the same. Venus and Serena will team up once again, opening up against Tamarine Tanasugarn and Andreea Ehritt-Vanc. The only trouble they could encounter would be a semi-final collision against Chinese pair Zi Yan and Jie Zheng who beat them in Melbourne in a tight three-set affair. If they can make it past their previous conquerors they could take on Yung-Jun Chan and Chia-Jung Chuang, for their first championship crown since the 2003 Australian Open.

An impressive, star-studded field will ensure top quality tennis all week at the Bangalore Open.