The 2009 Australian Open kicks off on Monday at Melbourne Park.
One hundred twenty-eight players will compete in the women’s main draw for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup trophy and a winner’s check of two million dollars.
World number one Jelena Jankovic is expected to headline the afternoon’s play on Rod Laver Arena, followed by Australian hopeful Casey Dellacqua’s night session match against Daniela Hantuchova.
Monday’s Matches to Follow
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[19] v. Casey Dellacqua (AUS)
Australia’s Casey Dellacqua (and her grandmother) won thousands of new fans last year as the Perth native played her way into the second week of her home major. Much has changed for Dellacqua since last year’s tournament, including a new career-high of No. 39 last July.
She has never before played Daniela Hantuchova, but one thing Dellacqua will have on her side is the support of her loyal fans in Melbourne. Fun Trivia Fact: Hantuchova and Dellacqua both lost their first matches of 2009 to the same person—Sara Errani.
Pick: Daniela Hantuchova in three sets
Jelena Dokic (AUS) v. Tamira Paszek (AUT)
It has been a long three years since Jelena Dokic competed in the main draw at Melbourne. Her bumpy relationship with Tennis Australia is in the past and Dokic received her wild card the old fashioned way by winning Tennis Australia’s playoff tournament.
Tamira Paszek’s two-handed backhand has been known to frustrate many players, yet the young Austrian has struggled of late with consistency. Dokic pulled out of last week’s Moorilla Hobart International because of an Achilles heel injury, and it remains to be seen whether the former star can compete at a high level of play.
Pick: Tamira Paszek in two sets
Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) v. Kaia Kanepi (EST)[25]
Kimiko Date Krumm’s comeback story has been remarkable and just keeps getting better by the month. The 38-year-old from Japan is already back inside the Top 200 after over a decade in retirement. She played through the qualifying to enter the main draw, setting herself up for a match against twenty-fifth seed Kaia Kanepi. This is a winnable opening match for the veteran, who last won a match at the Australian Open in 1996.
Pick: Kimiko Date Krumm in two sets
Who’s Missing from Melbourne
Lindsay Davenport (USA) – Pregnancy
Li Na (CHN) – Right knee injury
Bethanie Mattek (USA) – Left hip injury
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) – Illness
Tatiana Perebiynis (UKR) – Back injury
Maria Sharapova (RUS) – Right shoulder injury
Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) – Injury
Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) – Left Achilles injury
Discussion Question of the Day
Regardless of the rankings, who would you consider to be the best tennis player at the moment on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour?
Everyone, feel free to discuss Monday’s matches in the comments below. Enjoy the tennis!
I’ll following the Aussie Open as well. Since of I’m big fan of Argentina, my support will go out to David Nalbandian, Juan Martin Del Potro and the rest of the gang.
Honestly it will be tough for us because we never had that much of success in Australia.
But both Nalby and Del Potro have in great form so there is that little hope of something could happen.
What about you? Tell us your view of this year’s Open.
http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/2009/01/australian-open-aussies-albiceleste.html
Hi John,
Thank you for commenting at On the Baseline! We look forward to having you join us throughout the Grand Slam!
Enjoy the tennis!