Today’s Open Forum Friday is not only your chance to tell us who you think will win the 2008 Australian Open women’s singles title; it is also an opportunity for you to enter to win prizes, including a 6-pack, Sharapova Collection Prince tennis racquet bag.
All you have to do is accurately plot the draw from the semifinals to the winner.
To participate, enter your picks below in the comments for the semifinals and final. Before entering, make sure you take a look at the current copy of the women’s draw.
You can only leave your picks once, and the comments to this post will be closed on Sunday, January 13 at 6:00 PM ET (10:00 AM on Monday, January 14 AEST) before the start of the Grand Slam.
Example of how to leave your pick:
SEMIFINAL 1
Player vs PlayerSEMIFINAL 2:
Player vs PlayerCHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Player vs Player2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
Name of Champion
The person who accurately predicts the winner from the semifinals to the title will receive a 6-pack Prince Tennis Sharapova Collection racquet bag. This is Maria’s bag of choice and provides foamed protection for six racquets.
The second place finisher will receive a copy of Grand Slam doubles champion Betsy Nagelsen McCormack’s inspirational book, In His Court.
The third place winner will be awarded four cans of Wilson’s Hope pink tennis balls. The balls are designed for hard, abrasive outdoor surfaces, and includes a complimentary Wilson Hope bracelet.
In the event of a tie, the first, second, and/or third place winners will randomly be selected by generated computer numbers. If no one accurately plots the draw, the prizes will still be awarded to the individuals who finished the closest to the final draw.
Although this is a contest entry form, feel free to use this post to discuss the Grand Slam! The draw is extremely top-heavy, making the potential for several entertaining second and third round matches before the start of the second week!
After this edition, Open Forum Friday is suspended until after the tournament, however daily previews, including my daily picks will begin on Saturday!
SEMIFINAL 1
Henin vs Vaidisova
SEMIFINAL 2:
Ivanovic vs Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Henin vs Ivanovic
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
Ivanovic
SEMIFINAL 1
Serena vs Justine
SEMIFINAL 2:
Venus vs Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Venus vs Serena
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
Venus Ebony-Starr Williams!!!
Semifinal 1:
Sharapova v Jankovic
Semifinal 2:
Venus v Kuznetsova
Championship Match:
Sharapova v Venus
2008 AO Champ:
Maria Sharapova
Maria had a bad year last year and i think (hope) she will have a come back year starting with a convincing performance throughout the AO. If anybody wants more chances to win prizes or revise some of their picks, you can play Tennis Channel’s Racquet Bracket. Good luck to everybody
Hey hey i’m back…
SEMIFINAL 1
Henin vs S Williams
SEMIFINAL 2:
Ivanovic vs Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Henin vs Ivanovic
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
Justine Henin
I know my picks are completly wrong lol
SEMIFINAL 1
Justine Henin vs Serena Williams
SEMIFINAL 2
Venus Williams vs Swetlana Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Justine Henin vs Swetlana Kuznetsova
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER
Justine Henin
SEMIFINAL 1
Maria Sharapova vs Jelena Jankovic
SEMIFINAL 2:
Venus Williams vs Svetlana Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Maria Sharapova vs. Venus Williams
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
Venus Williams
SEMIFINAL 1
Henin vs Serena Williams
SEMIFINAL 2:
Venus Williams vs Anna Chakvetadze
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Venus vs Henin
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
Venus Williams
Hi Nexty! It’s so good to hear from you! How have you been?
Looks like we’re in for a good two weeks of tennis at the AO!
SEMIFINAL 1:
Henin vs. Jankovic
SEMIFINAL 2:
Ivanovic vs. Szavay
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Henin vs. Ivanovic
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
Justine Henin
Venus’ full name is “Venus Ebone Starr Williams”
That said this is tough. To pick before any rounds have been played?
The women’s Racquet Bracket is at http://www.tourneytopia.com/RacquetBracketAussieOpenWTA/AussieOpenWTA/SubmitPicks/Picks.aspx
and the layout there helps. I’ll wait for the burst of inspiration.
Pov,
Generally we do the daily picks contest, but because most of our readers are based in the USA, it is a little hard to schedule due to the time difference.
It won’t be easy to make a bracket before the start of play, but the good thing is we still plan to award the prizes to the person who comes closest to the actual final draw.
Semi 1: Henin v. Serena
Semi 2: Venus v. Szavay
Championship: Henin v. Venus
Winner: Venus
SEMIFINAL 1
Henin vs Jankovic
SEMIFINAL 2:
Venus Williams vs Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Henin vs Kuznetsova
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
Henin
It’s like being at Roland Garros and picking Nadal all the way through. I picked Justine, Justine and Justine, and then after that had no idea! I’ve probably respected seeding a little too much but I think that a lot of players will tire themselves out in the top half of the draw and JJ will sneak through, while in the bottom half, Svetlana’s currently proving why she’s WTA No. 2.
SEMIFINAL 1
Henin vs S. Williams
SEMIFINAL 2:
V. Williams vs Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
S. Williams vs Kuznetsova
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
S. Williams
I’m super excited for these next two weeks. The start of a new season is so exciting because anything can happen. Favorites might be rusty, darkhorses might be fitter, etc. I can see about ten women hoisting the trophy. Here’s for a great fortnight!
SEMIFINAL 1
Henin vs. S Williams
SEMIFINAL 2
Ivanovic vs. Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Henin vs. Ivanovic
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER
Justin Henin
Having picked these picks, I would also love to see Lindsay Devenport do really well!
SEMIFINAL 1
sharapova vs jancovic
SEMIFINAL 2:
ivanovic vs Svetlana Kuznetsova
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
sharapova vs ivanovic
2008 AUSTRALIAN OPEN WINNER:
sharapova
SF1: Henin Vs Serena Williams
SF2:Venus Vs Kuznetsova
Finals: Henin Vs Venus
Champion : Henin
Semi 1: Henin vs Jankovic
Semi 2: Venus vs Kuznetsova
Final: Henin vs Venus
Champion: Henin