Australian Open begins Monday

Qualifying rounds are being played now, and the main event begins Monday. Heavy favorite Kim Clijsters is a bit in doubt. She had to withdraw from the Medibank International tournament in Sydney because of a hip strain. An MRI shows there is no torn muscle, so the injury isn't serious, but her presence at the Australian Open is not guaranteed at this time.

World number one and top seed Lindsay Davenport, another big contender, is in good health, as is Justine Henin-Hardenne, though I do not know if her serve is back to its 2003 quality. Last year--her comeback year--it was notably poor, though no one in the tennis press seems to want to talk about it. Defending champion Serena Williams has been battling a knee injury. Her first-round draw, Na Li, is no walk in the park, nor is Henin-Hardenne's first-round draw, Marta Domachowska.

Other contenders are Venus Williams, Amelie Mauresmo, and Maria Sharapova. I like to think Patty Schnyder is a contender, though most do not consider her to be one. Schnyder has not quite gotten to that top rung yet, though Melbourne's rebound ace surface should be perfect for her game.

Comeback player Martina Hingis drew Vera Zvonareva in the first round. Zvonareva, once a Top Ten player, is now number 30 in the world and trying to make her way back. This is not the easiest draw for Hingis.

The "it" factor at the Australian Open is always the heat. The heat rules are ridiculous, and some players--notably Hingis and Schnyder--have succumbed to it in the past.