Which women's player is likely to win the 2008 Australian Open?

Question

I don't know who to pick because the field will be so tough. The field includes Henin, Davenport, Ivanovic, Serena W., Venus. W., Jankovic, Sharapova, Mauresmo, Dementieva, Kuznetsova, Golovin, and Vaidisova.

All I know is that I cannot pick Henin to win. Maybe Maria, Venus, or Lindsay.

Answer 1

This is a great question. i cant wait to see the draw and some of the match ups. All the names you have put down have a chance of winning it. it very much depends on the draw and how well they deal with the pressure. But henin deals with pressure so well and she is in the form of her life at the moment, so i would have to go with henin winning it. But maria has a good chance of having a strong run, especially as she had such a good masters series and she took henin to 3 sets which is a huge result. but as you said it is the strongest field ever, so i cant wait to see how it goes.

Answer 2

Well,I'm sorry,but Kim and Justine are the top 2 favorites since Serena is out. Kim Clijsters can win Slams even when she is not at her best.If she can be less up and down like in 2010 she will dominate the WTA Tour and be number 1.This is her best shot of winning a non-US Open Slam and I'm absolutely sure she will....As for Justine,well,she must be counted as a favorite because she was last year's runner up.When she is at her best she can beat anyone,including Clijsters.They amongst the rare players today that CAN be consistent throughout a Grand Slam tournament...Even though the Aussie Open is more opened than ever at the moment,I really can't see anyone else winning it...I don't understand why you hate them so much...They are not my favorite players,but I have huge amount of respect for them.They are both amazing athletes and a huge inspiration for fans worldwide....If it makes you happy there is a possibility of them getting eliminated early if they have a really bad day(which happens once in a while) or if they play a very inspired opponent,but the chances of that happening in a Grand Slam are very low. By the way,no need to commit suicide,really...There are a lot of worse things that can happen to you in life than Clijsters or Henin winning the Australian Open,trust me.One of my friends died from cancer 3 years ago and I still remained strong,in fact that made me stronger as a person...I have had other tough moments in life,but I never wanted to take away my life....I just think you are just a bit immature to be honest...Why are you making such a big deal?Whoever plays the best tennis out of the 128 players competing will win the Grand Slam....It has always been like that and it will always be... @Tom K-Ana doesn't use Wilson racquets and stop spamming.You will get reported. @asker:They are not overrated.I think they are underrated.And I am devastated Serena wont be defending her title...I REALLY hope she gets back soon :( get well soon Serena! Cmon,aren't you acting childish???? I don't like Federer,but I will have to deal with Fed winning 3 Slams this year(Aussie Open,Wimbledon and US Open),but I will survive... By the way Zvonareva wont win because she is very mentally unstable,Ivanovic is injured and out of Sydney,Sharapova will lose in the 1st or 2nd round :( If they meet it could be a double bagel,but Kim will double bagel Petrova.Petrova has been losing in early rounds since 2006.She doesn't stand a chance against Clijsters...

Answer 3

I think you have to favor Henin and Serena. Justine because she is the proven best player on the women's tour, Serena because she is the best Aussie Open player on the Tour (having won it 3 times- basically, she's won every time she's been healthy enough to get past the quarters).

After that, I would look at Venus and Lindsay, both have big games that are well suited to hard courts. Jankovic should go deep, but I don't see her winning a Grand Slam just yet (but would love to see it). Sharapova has been very inconsistent this year, thanks to injuries, I still feel like she's a big question mark going into the Aussie Open (if she plays like she did in Madrid, she'll go far, but is just as likely to crash out in the 4th Round in my opinion)...

Other players to look out for:
Kuznetsova- folds against top players, 4r
Ivanovic- may pull off an upset or two, 4r
Mauresmo- great, but out of match play practice, 2-3r
Dementieva- solid player, won't get past a top player though, 3r
Hantuchova- everyone forgets about her, but I think she ended the year playing well enough to push some top players, look out for her in the QFs
Vaidisova-another one with injury problems, lack of match play, 4r
Golovin-still not convinced she can beat top players, 3r

So many names to bring up, it should be interesting. Plus, don't forget new faces like Rezai and Szavay.

Answer 4

Im going to have to pick Serena..yes she's been beaten by Henin in the past three quarterfinals of the slams but she typically has her best results down under. If many upsets do happen like kast yeart where Mauresmo, Kuznetsova and others lost Serena will be a favorite. Besides Im thinking she wants revenge against Henin, so Im hoping she isnt in Henin's half of the draw. It would be great to see Henin v. Serena in a final

Answer 5

Golovin?
Golovin won her 1st title this year on green "clay" earlier in the spring but what has she done in Grand Slams that have her in the same sentence has Henin,Venus,Serena,Maria,Amelie
Svetlana and Elena?
ALL of them have made grand slam finals and been to slam semis while Golovin hasn't made it past the 4th round (unless I'm missing something) at last year's USO losing to Sharapova!
she had a nice run late during the indoor season beating some nice players but when the top 30 are around,no matter the surface;she's always folded!
she's got a horrible record in Melbourne btw
Vaidisova at least has made the semis in Paris last year and once again in Melbourne only losing to the eventual winner in a tough 3th set;I'd pick Vaidisova to make the second week before Golovin.

Golovin is barely a darkhorse right now
if any of these former and current slam winners and slam finalist(Dementieva) are healthy and playing well,forget about Golovin!

Answer 6

i would have to say either Henin, Serena, or Maria Sharapova will win the women's Aussie Open. Henin is clearly the best in the world right now, and the slower hard courts will help her against Sharapova and Serena.

Henin is also a former champion (won in 2004), so she knows how to win in Melbourne as well. So she would be my pick.

Answer 7

Even though u dont think so i'd have to pick henin to win unless she plays sydney and then gets tired in the final rounds of the aussie open. When she's fit and playing well its hard to see any of the other girls beating her even though there are some great players in the draw. If she does lose though i would say sharapova, davenport, mauresmo or vaidisova would go on to take the title.

Answer 8

IMHO, Henin is far apart from rest of the field. Davenport can do it so does the William sisters. But the way Henin finished the year and her game is so different from the past and it will be very difficult for anyone to overcome.

So I will go with Henin, unless the betting Gods do it
differently.

Unfortunately, the game is going in a different direction and
this is a major problem when money is involved with the
betting circles. Unless the admins keep them away, it will
continue to hurt the game, just like Cricket and Soccer.

Answer 9

Justine Henin is the definite favorite, but her mental game is not always there, leaving a big opening for some younger players as well as the veteran Serena Williams. Maria Sharapova, Kutznetsova, and Jankovic are predicted to have a great year, and I choose Jankovic to lose to Maria Sharapova in the finals.

Answer 10

I don't see Justine Henin's dominance ending anytime soon. All the players you mention couldn't even take a set off her in New York. The change of surface in Australia to fast US Open-like hardcourts will only stack the odds even more in her favor.