Gone is Serena Williams. She is sitting in the United States, waiting for her foot to heal and allow her back on the court.
That means, the Aussie Open is wide open for a variety of challengers to step in and take over where Williams left off.
Not that we wouldn’t have expected that anyway. The Australian is the one Grand Slam where virtually anything can happen, and the winner isn’t necessarily the favorite when the tourney begins.
For example, you would think with Serena back home, Kim Clijsters would take over as the overwhelming favorite to follow up her U.S. Open title with one Down Under. Clijsters, however, has never won this tournament as the hard court does not fit her game. She enters the week with 5/4 odds. Odds that you may do well to stay away from.
Fellow country woman Justine Henin comes into the Open well rested. But the biggest problem is she comes in well rested. Henin (57/20) missed the second half of 2010 with an injury and probably said it best herself when she said “When you have a break, you come back with a lot of questions.”
Does that sound like someone ready to win a Grand Slam tournament?
That brings us to World No. 2, Vera Zvonareva, and Caroline Wozniacki. Both are viable candidates for the title, though neither has taken the big leap to win a major. Zvonareva comes in at 5/1, while Woz is 2/1.
They will be pressured by Samantha Stosur (7/1), the home favorite despite the fact she is looking for her first career major singles title.
As far as Americans go, Venus Williams is listed at 7/1, a decent bet considering the relative Major inexperience.
Some other players you might want to take a look at: Ana Ivanovic (8/1), Jelena Jankovic (16/1) and longshot Marion Bartoli (30/1). Just for giggles…Maria Sharapova checks in at 11/2.
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