So, with the Australian Open finished, the women move onto Japan for the first Tier I of the year...here's the draw :)

(1)Maria Sharapova (RUS) v BYE
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) v (WC) Erika Takao (JPN)
Ai Sugiyama (JPN) v Elena Vesnina (RUS)
(7)Shahar Peer (ISR) v Maria Kirilenko (RUS)

(4)Jelena Jankovic (SRB) v BYE
Jie Zheng (CHN) v Q
Mara Santangelo (ITA) v (WC) Aiko Nakamura (JPN)
(5)Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v Shenay Perry (USA)

(8)Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) v Q
Marion Bartoli (FRA) v Severine Bremond (FRA)
Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) v (WC) Gisela Dulko (ARG)
(3)Elena Dementieva (RUS) v BYE

(6)Na Li (CHN) v Q
Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) v Q
(2)Martina Hingis (SUI) v BYE

Pretty easy passages for the seeds here I reckon, maybe Zvonareva will take out Li, and Hantuchova is always vulnerable, hopefully Elena can at least make the semis, she's out of the top 10 with a bad result here :huh:

Peer could be such a tough obstacle for maria should she reach the quarters, pushed Serena to the limit in Melbourne and is improving at such a pace. Gets better every match i see her to be honest. Schiavone could be pesky for maria in round 2.............

Jankovic should breeze through to the semis, Ivanovic can match her on form, but how often does Ana produce it :rolleyes: Jankovic is still in supreme form despite that loss to Serena, a real title contender here.............

Hopefully Dementieva can sneak through, but who knows. been in pretty dismal form since the Us hardcourt season :(

I think Li will move into the semis in the bottom half. Looked great at the Open until her utter implosion against hingis. I would however favour Li on a faster-court and get some revenge. It remains to be seen how Hingis will react after that huge los to Clijsters at the Aussie, where it was her match to win............

I really dont think peer will be that much of trouble for maria and especially since she is that angry. Remember when Lindsay bagelled her, she destroyed venus next.

Nah, she got bagelled by Lindsay and then lost to Kim in the final of her next tournament! :D

Flamming Choka, I am going have to be watching my back when it comes to Maria. I wonder how you celebrated after that heavy lose.

I hope Hingis and Maria make the final, that would be great :clap:

Perhaps Hingis could try and recapture her magic here from last year :)

It still baffles me how easily she beat Maria and then loses so easily to her the next times they play.

I think Maria, Jelena and Elena should really make the semis here with hopefully Martina although Li will be tough.
But Marti likes playing here so hope she has a good week! :D

:rolleyes: Another loss for Makiri methinks

You know the way people will be making big leaps up the rankings on Monday!

Potentially you could be playing a person that has a higher seed than you, but actually has a lower ranking!

roflmao roflmao

Well that always happens after a Grand Slam event to be honest :)

Particularly with the new ranking points ;)

I think Martina will get through to the final, and hopefully get some revenge over Sharapova, Jankovic or Ana.