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Breaking down the Aussie Open draw
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim peers into his crystal ball to reveal the fate of all 32 seeds for the Australian Open. Scroll down to see the first-round matches you shouldn't miss, some darkhorse candidates to advance to Week 2, and his championship predictions. WOMEN'S REPORT | Men's Report 1. Martina Hingis: Two years since she won her last Slam, it's a tribute to her consistency that she's a top seed. Still, even with a squishy draw, it's hard to see her surviving a stacked field on a fast surface. 2. Lindsay Davenport: If she can recapture the mojo she had in Melbourne a year ago, she'll be back in the winner's circle. If not, it's within reason that she could lose to Jelena Dokic in the first round. 3. Venus Williams: She hasn't played many matches since the fall, but the $40 million woman certainly has momentum on her side.
5. Conchita Martinez: She reached the semis last year, but won't come close in 2001. 6. Serena Williams: Certainly has the game to win, but will her spotty preparation be her undoing, as it was last year? Projected quarterfinal showdown against Hingis should be a good one. 7. Mary Pierce: If her well-rested shoulder is back to full strength and her feet are healthy, she's a bona fide contender. If not, she could be out early, say, to Nathalie Dechy in Round 3. 8. Anna Kournikova: Her first title isn't coming at a Slam. Falling last week to Corina Morariu doesn't bode well. 9. Elena Dementieva: She had her star turn, now can she build on it? Lilia Osterloh will make her work in Round 1. 10. Amanda Coetzer: Will live up to her seeding; no more, no less. 11. Chanda Rubin: Particularly with a reasonable draw, the former semifinalist could make some noise. Might well be the player to take out Kournikova. 12. Jennifer Capriati: She reached the semis a year ago and the surface is to her liking. Her fitness level and desire are iffy, but a kind draw might help kick-start her season. 13. Amelie Mauresmo: Beset by a string of injuries, she has never been the same since reaching final two years ago. Recently reaggravated a back injury, plus she has a potentially tough first-round encounter against Ai Sugiyama. 14. Sandrine Testud: Rarely plays her best tennis in Slams. Look for her to lose to Justine Henin in Round 3. 15. Kim Clijsters: Likely to play Davenport in Round of 16. 16. Amy Frazier: Even if she lives up to her seeding, she'll have to re-enter the zone (see: San Diego 2000) to overtake Hingis. DANGEROUS FLOATERSNathalie Dechy Elena Likhovtseva: A quarterfinalist last year who took out Serena Williams. Barbara Schett Jelena Dokic: If meeting Lindsay Davenport in first match weren't enough, Rita Kuti Kis is in her quadrant. Justine Henin: Now that she's healthy, she's a serious threat. FIRST-ROUND MATCHES TO WATCHDokic vs. Davenport Coetzer vs. Sonya Jeyaseelan: The lollipop guild special. Likhovtseva vs. Schett PREDICTIONS Semifinals: Hingis vs. Venus Williams; Henin vs. Davenport
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim covers tennis for the magazine and will be filing daily reports from the Australian Open for CNNSI.com. Click here to send a question to his mailbag.
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