Australian Open women's penpix
Penpix of leading contenders for the Australian Open women's title:
Penpix of leading contenders for the Australian Open women's title:
VICTORIA AZARENKA (BLR)
World ranking: 1
Birthdate: July 31, 1989
Birthplace: Minsk, Belarus
Residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Height: 6' (183 cm)
Weight: 145 lbs (66 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned pro: 2003
Coach: Sam Sumyk
Career singles titles: 14
Grand Slam singles titles: 1
Career prize money: $16,857,277
Best Australian Open result: Champion (2012)
- Azarenka comes into the Australian Open as defending champion and world number one after winning six WTA titles in 2012. But she withdrew from this month's Brisbane International with an infected big toe, casting doubt on her Melbourne chances.
MARIA SHARAPOVA (RUS)
World ranking: 2
Birthdate: April 19, 1987
Birthplace: Nyagan, Russia
Residence: Bradenton, Florida, USA
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned pro: 2001
Coach: Yuri Sharapov
Career singles titles: 27
Grand Slam singles titles: 4 (Australian Open 2008, French Open 2012, Wimbledon 2004, US Open 2006)
Career prize money: $23,151,623
Best Australian Open result: Champion (2008)
- Sharapova, who lost to Azarenka in the final of last year's Australian Open, will be looking to build on a solid 2012 that saw her win three WTA titles and briefly return to world number one. She pulled out of Brisbane this month with a collarbone injury.
SERENA WILLIAMS (USA)
World ranking: 3
Birthdate: September 26, 1981
Birthplace: Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Weight: 155 lbs (70 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned pro: 1995
Coach: Richard Williams
Career singles titles: 47
Grand Slam singles titles: 15 (Australian Open 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, French Open 2002, Wimbledon 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, US Open 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012)
Career prize money: $41,960,896
Best Australian Open result: Champion (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010)
- Despite ranking third in the world, Williams remains the most feared women's player, underlined by a dominant 2012 when she won Wimbledon, the US Open, the WTA Championship and the Olympics. She started 2013 by claiming the Brisbane International title.
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL)
World ranking: 4
Birthdate: March 6, 1989
Birthplace: Krakow, Poland
Residence: Krakow, Poland
Height: 5'8" (172 cm)
Weight: 123 lbs (56 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned pro: 2005
Coach: Tomasz Wiktorowski
Career singles titles: 11
Grand Slam singles titles: 0
Career prize money: $11,091,677
Best Australian Open result: Quarter-final (2008, 2011, 2012)
- Radwanska had a perfect start to 2013, clinching the ASB Classic title in Auckland, following up on wins in Dubai, Miami, and Brussels last year as well as being runner-up to Williams at Wimbledon in her first Grand Slam final.
LI NA (CHN)
World ranking: 6
Birthdate: February 26, 1982
Birthplace: Wuhan, China
Residence: Wuhan, China
Height: 5'7 3/4" (172 cm)
Weight: 143 lbs (65 kg)
Plays: Right-handed
Turned pro: 1999
Coach: Carlos Rodriguez
Career singles titles: 7
Grand slam singles titles: 1 (French Open 2011)
Career prize money: $9,428,784
Best Australian Open result: Runner-up (2011)
- Li is aiming to go one better than 2011 when she was runner-up in Melbourne. She comes into the tournament after finishing 2012 as a top 10 player for the second straight season. She began this year in top form, beating Klara Zakopalova to claim the Shenzhen Open.