[Uranium]

25th seed in Singles and 12th seeds in Doubles.

1. Errani/Vinci = 3
2. Hlavackova/Hradecka = 7
3. Raymond/Kirilenko = 13
4. Vesnina/Makarova = 20
5. Huber/Martinez Sanchez = 21
6. Petrova/Srebotnik = 21
7. Kops-Jones/Spears = 29
8. Zheng/Llagostera Vives = 29
9. Groenefeld/Peschke = 35
10. Mattek-Sands/Mirza = 39
11. King/Shvedova = 41
12. Venus/Serena = 62
13. Begu/Niculescu = 65
14. Medina Garrigues/Hantuchova = 81
15. Grandin/Uhlirova = 81
16. Peng/Hsieh = 83

[Pump-it-UP]

Originally Posted by Uranium

25th seed in Singles and 12th seeds in Doubles.

1. Errani/Vinci = 3
2. Hlavackova/Hradecka = 7
3. Raymond/Kirilenko = 13
4. Vesnina/Makarova = 20
5. Huber/Martinez Sanchez = 21
6. Petrova/Srebotnik = 21
7. Kops-Jones/Spears = 29
8. Zheng/Llagostera Vives = 29
9. Groenefeld/Peschke = 35
10. Mattek-Sands/Mirza = 39
11. King/Shvedova = 41
12. Venus/Serena = 62
13. Begu/Niculescu = 65
14. Medina Garrigues/Hantuchova = 81
15. Grandin/Uhlirova = 81
16. Peng/Hsieh = 83

Hmmm. 4 of the strongest teams are in that 9-12 bracket, so they're guaranteed to be in separate quarters. I like this.

I want them to finally win this without dropping a set. A win would put them right outside the top 10 and get their Istanbul bid off to a strong start.

[Uranium]

^I was thinking the same about winning without losing a set! But Vee's singles title hopes come first...not that you care...so whatever she needs to do to go 13-0.

[Maddy-88]

Originally Posted by acelovesvenus

With the ITF Venus and Serena have won their last 24 matches.8 for Venus,16 for Serena. When you think about it Venus has actually been in good form since the Olympics.I hope she can have a really good Australian Open this year!

Glad you also noticed that too, hope her win streak continues

[V.e.s.W]

I can't waaaait... I wish tomorrow was monday

[Upgraded]

I'm also really excited about that AO, I'm anticipating Venus a lot.

It's like 2007 with Serena @ the AO where I followed every of her match with that strong feeling that she would prevail.

[Direwolf]

Originally Posted by Uranium

25th seed in Singles and 12th seeds in Doubles.

1. Errani/Vinci = 3
2. Hlavackova/Hradecka = 7
3. Raymond/Kirilenko = 13
4. Vesnina/Makarova = 20
5. Huber/Martinez Sanchez = 21
6. Petrova/Srebotnik = 21
7. Kops-Jones/Spears = 29
8. Zheng/Llagostera Vives = 29
9. Groenefeld/Peschke = 35
10. Mattek-Sands/Mirza = 39
11. King/Shvedova = 41
12. Venus/Serena = 62
13. Begu/Niculescu = 65
14. Medina Garrigues/Hantuchova = 81
15. Grandin/Uhlirova = 81
16. Peng/Hsieh = 83

Oh lala...

last time they played a full schedule on doubles... they both got to #1 in doubles and #1 n #2 in singles

im surprise that they weren't given the #1 seed
for being legendary!!

[Direwolf]

I hope

R3: Errani-Kvitova
R4: Stosur-Wozniacki
QF: Radwanska-Sharapova
SF: ...

Id be please if she reaches R4...

[Tech1]

AO SWOT #12 Venus Williams

Wednesday, 26 December, 2012
By Matt Trollope

Despite playing a limited schedule as she returned from her illness-induced hiatus, Venus still managed to rise from No.134 to No.24 in 2012, reach the quarters or better at five of her 10 events, and win her first title in almost three years at Luxembourg.

Strengths: Seeing Williams in full flight is one of the most spectacular sights in tennis. The owner of the biggest serve in the history of women’s tennis is among the hardest hitters in the game, and for someone of her height her movement is exceptional, as is her ability to turn defence into attack. Williams’ reach, athleticism and secure volleys make her an accomplished net player, and like sister Serena, she’s one of the most mentally tough players out there.

Weaknesses: For all her physical gifts and weapons, Williams’ second serve has always been her weakness, delivered with a slight hitch – her head drops sharply to the left – and usually going straight into the middle of the service box. Her forehand is hit a little less cleanly than her rock-solid backhand, therefore more prone to breaking down and producing errors.

Opportunities: Williams played 33 matches in 2012, the most in a single season in two years. Having built up a little more match fitness but still enjoying a decent break between seasons, she will hopefully arrive in Australia refreshed yet grooved and ready for an assault on the Aussie hardcourts. More matches – and wins – leads to increased confidence and consistency, and when Venus’ game comes together, it spells devastation for opponents.

Threats: Already one of the most injury-prone players in the game, Williams’ health remains a day-to-day proposition since her Sjogren’s Syndrome diagnosis in 2011, an auto-immune condition that has sapped her energy for several years. And in 12 visits to Melbourne Park she has never before lifted the trophy – her best chance may have passed her by.

Nicole Pratt, former world No.35 and Tennis Australia’s National Women’s Coach

“History suggests based on her results at the Australian Open that Venus comes in underdone, and not as prepared compared to Wimbledon or the US Open … That said, Venus knows what it takes to win Grand Slam titles and I think she's hungrier than ever. She realises that she only has perhaps one or two good years in her left to play at the highest level. She's always said that she loves Australia and loves being here, but it's going to come down to preparation.”

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...478965965.html

[Jalil Sherman]

Originally Posted by V-MAC

Something I forgot to mention during her matches at Hopman Cup was Vee's service motion on the second serve which is so strange to see now!
Before, she used to collapse into it a lot where her head would already be down before the ball had left her racquet, but now she seems to hop into it Just seems very manufactured and awkward but hey if it stops the leakage of double faults then I'm all for it

watching highlights now, yeah I notice it too. Like you said she's probably trying to keep her head up during the serve like people say you're supposed to... And people say she doesn't work on her game

She will probably forget and go back to her old thing sooner or later though

[joeshmo50]

I just realized, since she's in that 25-28 seed group she can only be matched up with 5-8 seed in the 3rd round, as 29-32 is matched up with 1-4 in the 3rd round. So we don't need to worry about Serena too early.

[TPlaya8]

Originally Posted by joeshmo50

I just realized, since she's in that 25-28 seed group she can only be matched up with 5-8 seed in the 3rd round, as 29-32 is matched up with 1-4 in the 3rd round. So we don't need to worry about Serena too early.

You sure its like that? Thought it was 9-16 face 17-24 and 1-8 face 25-32 I didn't know they break it down any further

[joeshmo50]

I mean it would only be fair for the top 4 to get that treatment. I know when other sports make draws (i.e. March Madness, NFL Football, etc.) they break it down in this manner so it would only make sense to do it for tennis, too. I guess we'd have to go back on the draws and see if such pairings did in fact occur.

[TPlaya8]

Originally Posted by joeshmo50

I mean it would only be fair for the top 4 to get that treatment. I know when other sports make draws (i.e. March Madness, NFL Football, etc.) they break it down in this manner so it would only make sense to do it for tennis, too. I guess we'd have to go back on the draws and see if such pairings did in fact occur.

Yea just looking at the Us Open draw 7th seed Stosur had 31 seed Lepchenko drawn for her 3 rd round and 6 seed Kerber had the 29th seed.

I think other sports do it because they usually only have a draw in a special tournament or playoffs to end the season. Tennis has draws in every event so their difference keeps the same match ups frombhappening every single tournament.

Example. Most Sports the 4th seed always plays the 1 seed and the 2nd always plays the 3rd

But great wishful thinking tho. When tho I like Venus' chances vs Azarenka and Sharapova more than Na or Kerber even tho after Cincinnati and the Us Open I know Venus can beat both of those players

[Slammer7]

Originally Posted by joeshmo50

I just realized, since she's in that 25-28 seed group she can only be matched up with 5-8 seed in the 3rd round, as 29-32 is matched up with 1-4 in the 3rd round. So we don't need to worry about Serena too early.

Originally Posted by TPlaya8

You sure its like that? Thought it was 9-16 face 17-24 and 1-8 face 25-32 I didn't know they break it down any further

Originally Posted by joeshmo50

I mean it would only be fair for the top 4 to get that treatment. I know when other sports make draws (i.e. March Madness, NFL Football, etc.) they break it down in this manner so it would only make sense to do it for tennis, too. I guess we'd have to go back on the draws and see if such pairings did in fact occur.

This is where we need our resident draw and rankings expert Pump-it-UP to come in and make it all clear.