Tennis: Women's event bit of a lottery

Serena Williams will be absent from this year's Australian Open. Photo / AP

The absence of five-times champion Serena Williams and unconvincing early-season form of the world's top two players has reduced the Australian Open women's event to a tennis lottery.

Supermum Kim Clijsters could claim to be holding the winning ticket after beginning 2011 in the same way she ended 2010 - in dominant fashion.

While world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki, second-ranked Vera Zvonareva and seven-times major champion Venus Williams will all launch their title quests without an official match win this summer, Clijsters' hot streak continued with a series of one-sided victories at the Sydney International.

"I feel good. I feel fit," the US Open champion said.

Clijsters, with her husband Brian and 2-year-old daughter Jada in tow this trip, crowned her stellar 2010 with victory over Wozniacki in the WTA Championship final in Doha.

"I'll be good for Melbourne," Wozniacki said. "I'm feeling confident."

- AAP