Interestingly, the player I'm predicting will win the Australian Open has only gotten as far as a runner-up position here, and that was way back in 2004, where she lost to compatriot Justine Henin. However, with Serena Williams out of this tournament, and based on her performance these past two months, including winning the year-end championships in 2010, Kim Clijsters looks to me like the player to beat in the women's singles in this year's Australian Open.
Well, I did not even put current #1 Caroline Wozniacki in the equation, as her performance these past two weeks have been very dismal, and in her side of the draw, there are two players who have just beaten here - Cibulkova and Wickmayer. That's why I think she'll exit as early as the third round!
I think the division of talent has been fair in this year's draw. In the upper half is Clijsters usual nemesis, Justine Henin, then Venus Williams, Li Na and Victoria Azarenka. I think they are the players most likely to dominate that part of the draw. Henin may have to contend with Kuznetsova and Wickmayer while Li Na may have to defeat Azarenka, Venus and Hantuchova. In this side of the draw, the players I predict would reach the semi-finals are Justine Henin and Li Na. Former champion Maria Sharapova is in this side of the draw but her recent performances have been very weak, and her side of the draw is fraught with very dangerous players like Vesnina, Kanepi and maybe a showdown with Venus in the quarterfinals.
The lower part of the draw has Jankovic, Clijsters, Stosur and Zvonareva. I don't think Jankovic will last as far as the second round as Peng Shuai, who is performing well these past few weeks, should be able to handle her in the second round. Stosur, usually a strong player, may buckle under the glare of the Australian media and may fall to Kvitova in the third round. With both on the wayside, Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva, are my favorites to reach the semifinals, in this side of the draw. Ana Ivanovic is in this side of the draw, but her side has so many talented veterans - Patty Schnyder, Nadia Petrova and Kim Clijsters! So I think she may fall down eventually to one of them.
In the finals, I predict that Li Na and Kim Clijsters will be the ones to make it.
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