The women's title at Melbourne is the most evenly contested for many years. Paul Lewis ranks the leading lights.
1. SERENA WILLIAMS (Ranked 1 in the world)
Defending champion and favourite, Serena Williams was thrashed 6-3 6-2 by Elena Dementieva in the final lead-up event on Friday night.
There is a suspicion that she is nursing an undisclosed ankle injury and a knee problem. There is also the
statistical curiosity that says Williams only wins the Open in odd-numbered years (she has won in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009).
Despite Friday night's defeat, Serena is still the one to beat.
2. KIM CLIJSTERS (15)
Her comeback has been the stuff of dreams. Won the US Open in her return to Grand Slam tennis and, since motherhood, has been displaying a new ability to close out opponents - where the old Clijsters often folded.
Won a significant bonus for her victory over fellow Belgian comeback queen Justine Henin in last weekend's Brisbane Invitational final - rising from 18 to 15, meaning the Open seedings and draw will work in her favour; avoiding clashes with those ranked above her.
3. ELENA DEMENTIEVA (5)
Has brought a new hardness to a persona that often used to lose focus at key moments - and has ridden up the world rankings thanks to her new consistency.
Might be hard pressed to win this, though the world No 5 has reached the semifinals of all four majors, including two finals - the 2004 French and US Opens.
Her win over Serena on Friday night was impressive, even though against top players, she can find her serve under pressure.
4. MARIA SHARAPOVA (14)
For the first time in two years, she is free from her troublesome shoulder injury. She has also just sealed a US$70 million deal with Nike and many are picking Sharapova to be a force at this year's Open.
Beat Venus Williams in a recent exhibition match and looked sharp.
Still only 22, she outlined her credentials further with a dominant straight-sets win over world No 4 Caroline Wozniacki at the Hong Kong Tennis Classic.
5. VENUS WILLIAMS (6)
Forced to reject rumours she is quitting, Venus Williams lost her Wimbledon crown to sister Serena and then plummeted out of the Beijing Open in October, prompting retirement speculation.
Did well, although beaten by Sharapova in her only lead-up tournament.
Will be keen to figure in Melbourne because of all the retirement talk - making her a dangerous opponent.
6. JUSTINE HENIN (n/a)
Still so far unranked, so new is her comeback. However, many expect Henin to play a significant role in the Open - provided a leg injury sustained in the Brisbane final (when she lost to Clijsters) does not interfere.
Still has that outstanding backhand, seems a new and more open person since returning from her decision to retire in May 2008 when world No 1 with seven Grand Slam titles, including the 2004 Australian Open, citing a lack of desire.
As a wildcard, Henin will be subject to the whims of the draw and this may be too early for her - but she is usually a ferocious competitor.
7. DINARA SAFINA (2)
Now relieved of the burden of being world No 1 when that title clearly belonged to Serena Williams, Safina has to get past the hurdle of that horrifying and embarrassing meltdown when she faced Williams in last year's final at Melbourne.
She clearly has had problems coping with the pressure of not winning a Slam but, when she is on her game, Safina is a fine power player.
She will one day put it all together and give someone a fearful hiding. She has been struggling with a back injury - although she says it is okay now - and was well beaten by Dementieva in Sydney's lead-up tournament.
8. SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (3)
French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was humbled 7-5 6-2 by Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova in last week's lead-up tournament in Sydney.
In eight previous appearances at Melbourne Park, Kuznetsova has made it past the fourth round on only two occasions, in 2005 and 2009.
Insists that her strategy of turning up "under-done" for the Open and playing herself into form is the right one for her - and, indeed, she won the US Open as a teenager in 2004 after having never made it past the quarter-finals of any Grand Slam.
Then she waited another five years before winning a second major, at last year's French Open. A gutsy all-round player, Kuznetsova is one who can't be counted out.
9. CAROLINE WOZNIACKI (4)
The new "it" girl in tennis, Wozniacki crashed out of the Sydney International last week in a 2-6 6-3 6-2 first round defeat to China's Na Li and was beaten in straight sets by Sharapova in Hong Kong.
That might not be the best dress rehearsal ever but the talented Wozniacki has otherwise been surging up the charts.
This competition will be tough and it is not known whether Wozniacki will be affected by the publication of an unauthorised biography, Miss Sunshine, which heavily criticises her father, Piotr, as a hard-driving "tennis father", leading to threats to sue.
