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PrincessPeach

I want to ride my bicycle.
The Australian Open kicks off on Sunday. I don't know whether or not anyone else cares, but I thought I'd start a thread in case anyone would like to discuss...

I'll talk to myself if I have to. :)
 
Link - from official Australian Open Site

Federer, Davenport, Top Seeds
Thursday, 12 January, 2006

Seedings for Australian Open 2006 were announced today with world No.1's Roger Federer (Switzerland) and Lindsay Davenport (USA) topping the men's and women's lists.

Fans can expect to see the world's best players at this year's Australian Open which includes 14 former world No.1's, all of the top 20 women and 17 of the top 20 men competing.

Finishing world No.1 for the second successive year, Federer had another stellar season in 2005, winning 11 titles including two Grand Slams and four Masters Series crowns. In preparation for Australian Open 2006, the 24-year-old collected his 34th career title with a win at Doha.

Second seed Andy Roddick won five titles last year on his way to finishing world No.3. At last year's Australian Open, the big-serving American equalled his best result here reaching the semifinals before losing to Hewitt in four sets.

Third seed Lleyton Hewitt finished 2005 at world No.4 despite being hampered by injuries and a busy personal life that saw him get married and become a father. Hewitt will be hoping to go one better at Australian Open 2006 after losing to Marat Safin in the final last year. In fact, in each of his last seven Grand Slams contested, the Australian has lost to the eventual champion. As No.3 seed Hewitt must wait until tomorrow's official draw to see if he will be in Federer's or Roddick's half of the draw.

The men's seedings also include the in-form David Nalbandian at No.4. Nalbandian claimed the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup title last year with a momentous victory over Federer in the final. The Argentine has reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open for the last three years.

One to watch will be No.7 seed Ivan Ljubicic who comes to Australia in top form after defeating Carlos Moya in the final at Chennai. The Croatian's best result at the Australian Open is a third round appearance in 2002, but after enjoying his best season on the tour last year - winning two titles, finishing in the top 10 for first time and leading his country to its first-ever Davis Cup title - Ljubicic will be hoping to better his Australian Open record.

In the women's draw Davenport tops the seedings for the second successive year after claiming six titles and finishing 2005 ranked world No.1 for the fourth time in her career. A singles champion at the Australian Open in 2000, Davenport was a finalist here last year.

Kim Clijsters comes into the event seeded No.2 after a phenomenal return to competition in 2005 following a wrist injury that kept her out of last year's tournament. The Belgian won nine titles and her career-first Grand Slam title at the US Open. The 22-year-old's best result at the Australian Open was reaching the final in 2004, going down to Justine Henin-Hardenne in three sets.

Justine Henin-Hardenne is seeded No.6. and was also forced to miss last year's Australian Open due to injury, but like her Belgium counterpart, made an incredible return later in the year that peaked when she claimed the Roland Garros title.

Number 13 seed Serena Williams is back to defend her title after an injury plagued 2005 that saw her finish the year outside the top 10 for the first time in seven years. Her sister Venus Williams , the runner-up here in 2003, is seeded No.10.

Maria Sharapova , seeded No.4, leads a strong Russian contingent of nine seeded players - Nadia Petrova (6), Elena Dementieva (9), 2004 Roland Garros champion Anastasia Myskina (12), 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (14), Elena Likhovtseva (18), Dinara Safina (19), Maria Kirilenko (25) and Vera Zvonareva (30).

Australian Open winner in 1995, Mary Pierce is the No.5 seed and will be a serious threat to the title after a recent career renaissance which saw the Frenchwoman win two titles and make it to the finals of both Roland Garros and the US Open in 2005.

Rounding off the seeds at No.32 in the men's draw is former Roland Garros champion and Australian Open 1997 finalist Carlos Moya , while the women's No.32 seed is Sania Mirza , who began her rapid rise up the rankings last year after receiving the Asian Wildcard into the Australian Open.

The Australian Open Draw will take place at the Melbourne Park Function Centre - Skyline Room on Friday 13 January from 10.30am onwards. Formalities start at 9.55am.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2006 MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SEEDS

Men
1. Roger Federer (SUI)
2. Andy Roddick (USA)
3. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)
4. David Nalbandian (ARG)
5. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
6. Guillermo Coria (ARG)
7. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
8. Gaston Gaudio (ARG)
9. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
10. Thomas Johansson (SWE)
11. David Ferrer (ESP)
12. Dominik Hrbaty (SVK)
13. Robby Ginepri (USA)
14. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
15. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
16. Tommy Robredo (ESP)
17. Radek Stepanek (CZE)
18. Mario Ancic (CRO)
19. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
20. James Blake (USA)
21. Nicolas Kiefer (GER)
22. Gael Monfils (FRA)
23. Igor Andreev (RUS)
24. Olivier Rochus (BEL)
25. Sebastien Grosjean (FRA)
26. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)
27. Taylor Dent (USA)
28. Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
29. Filippo Volandri (ITA)
30. Max Mirnyi (BLR)
31. Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
32. Carlos Moya (ESP)

Women
1. Lindsay Davenport (USA)
2. Kim Clijsters (BEL)
3. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)
4. Maria Sharapova (RUS)
5. Mary Pierce (FRA)
6. Nadia Petrova (RUS)
7. Patty Schnyder (SUI)
8. Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)
9. Elena Dementieva (RUS)
10. Venus Williams (USA)
11. Nathalie Dechy (FRA)
12. Anastasia Myskina (FRA)
13. Serena Williams (USA)
14. Svetlana Kusnetsova (RUS)
15. Francesca Schiavone (ITA)
16. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)
17. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)
18. Elena Likhovtseva (RUS)
19. Dinara Safina (RUS)
20. Flavia Pennetta (ITA)
21. Ana Ivanovic (SCG)
22. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER)
23. Jelena Jankovic (SCG)
24. Tatiana Golovin (FRA)
25. Maria Kirlenko (RUS)
26. Ai Sugiyama (JPN)
27. Marion Bartoli (FRA)
28. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP)
29. Klara Koukalova (CZE)
30. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
31. Gisela Dulko (ARG)
32. Sania Mirza (IND)

Sadly, defending men's champion Marat Safin is still injured and won't be playing. Current #2 ranked Rafael Nadal has also withdrawn due to injury.
 
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Please Post good Sharopava shots here.


Thanks in advance.

:shake:

Only for you, AKAK...

maria_sharapova_008.jpg
 
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Thanks...

Wow. Serena is the #13?? I'd figure her to be a top 4 in this event. Its hard court. right up her alley

Seedings for major tournaments are generally done based solely on current rankings (which are based on a rolling 52-week time period). Wimbledon is the exception - they weigh grass-court tournaments more heavily than others. Serena had a tough year last year.
 
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Serena is the #13?? I'd figure her to be a top 4 in this event. Its hard court. right up her alley

My wife and I went to the US Open last year, and Serena looked *really* out of shape. If she hasn't done some conditioning in the offseason, she's not going to get a top ranking anywhere this year.

My predictions:

Men's Champ - Federer (yawn)
Women's Champ - Mauresmo
Biggest Head Case (Men) - Roddick
Biggest Head Case (Women) - Serena
Earliest top 10 Departure (Men) - Gonzalez
Earliest top 10 Departure (Women) - Dementieva
 
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