World No.1 Serena Williams went 78-4 and won 11 titles in 2013. She also beat Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka back-to-back last week to win in Brisbane without dropping a single set.
Rafael Nadal staged a remarkable comeback in 2013 and now becomes the biggest threat to Novak Djokovic`s Australian Open crown.
Retired Belgian tennis ace Kim Clijsters has admitted that the the thought of playing at the Australian Open may encourage her for a third stint on the women`s tour.
Gunning for yet another Grand Slam title, India`s old war horse Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek have been seeded fifth at the Australian Open and they will open their campaign against Czech pair of Lukas Dlouhy and Lukas Rosol.
Former British tennis player Tim Henman on Sunday said it will be interesting to see what changes Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic bring in their games after employing new coaches.
Australian warhorse Lleyton Hewitt Sunday said he was feeling confident ahead of his record-equalling 18th Australian Open after shocking Roger Federer to stay unbeaten this year.
Rohan Bopanna has every reason to feel "well prepared" going into the Australian Open as the Indian tennis star enjoyed a superb week at the Sydney International, where he reached the finals, and then won back his place in the Davis Cup side after spending almost two years on the sidelines.
Australia`s Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter has enjoyed smiting foes in the senior`s tour since his retirement, but fears he may have bitten off more than he can chew by agreeing to partner Lleyton Hewitt in the Australian Open doubles.
Nadal fought back from a career-threatening knee injury to take 2013 by storm, winning 10 titles including the French Open and US Open and edging Novak Djokovic for the year-end world number one. Started this year with a win in Doha and he will be keen to make up for his injury-forced absence from Melbourne last year.
The all-time Grand Slam record-holder, now 32, faces a challenge to remain at the top of men`s tennis after falling to world number six.
Must be regarded as the favourite after winning his first Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park in 2008 and reclaiming the trophy in 2011, 2012, 2013, the first hat-trick of the Open era.
Azarenka is the defending Australian Open champion
The dominant American has won 17 Grand Slam titles, including five in Australia, to be one of the most successful women`s players ever
