The 2012 Australian Open is the first Grand Slam event of the year and it will be a star-studded affair with the world’s best players competing.
The top 10 seeds in the tournament are comprised of the top 10-ranked women in tennis today. The action begins Jan. 16, so here is a look at the top 10 women competing in the tournament to get you primed.
Caroline Wozniacki
Seed: 1
Age: 21
Country: Denmark
2011 Match Record: 63-17
2011 Singles Titles: 6
Career Singles Titles: 18
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the semi-finals to Li Na.
Topspin: Currently the top-ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 298-107 … Spent all but one week of the 2011 season ranked No.1 … This will be her fifth time competing in the Australian Open.
Petra Kvitova
Seed: 2
Age: 21
Country: Czech Republic
2011 Match Record: 60-13
2011 Singles Titles: 6
Career Singles Titles: 7
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the quarter-finals to Vera Zvonareva.
Topspin: Currently the No. 2 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 201-94 … Was named Most Improved Player of the Year in 2011 … Has played in three Australian Opens.
Victoria Azarenka
Seed: 3
Age: 22
Country: Belarus
2011 Match Record: 55-17
2011 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 8
2011 Australian Open result: Lost to Li Na in the fourth round.
Topspin: Currently the No. 3 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 279-122 … Has six career doubles titles … This will be her seventh Australian Open.
Maria Sharapova
Seed: 4
Age: 24
Country: Russia
2011 Match Record: 43-14
2011 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 24
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the fourth round to Andrea Petkovic.
Topspin: Currently the No. 4 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 412-104 … Has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Forbes Magazine … This will be her eighth Australian Open.
Li Na
Seed: 5
Age: 29
Country: China
2011 Match Record: 32-17
2011 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 5
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the finals to Kim Clijsters.
Topspin: Currently the No. 5 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 389-150 … Donated all her prize money from Madrid in 2010 to China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation … This will be her eighth Australian Open.
Sam Stosur
Seed: 6
Age: 27
Country: Australia
2011 Match Record: 45-23
2011 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 3
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the third round to Petra Kvitova.
Topspin: Currently the No. 6 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 359-250 … In 2011 became the first Australian to win a Grand Slam title since 1980 … This will be her tenth Australian Open.
Vera Zvonareva
Seed: 7
Age: 27
Country: Russia
2011 Match Record: 56-22
2011 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 12
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the semi-finals to Kim Clijsters.
Topspin: Currently the No. 7 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 453-210 … 2011 was her fourth straight top 10 season … This will be her tenth Australian Open.
Agnieszka Radwanska
Seed: 8
Age: 22
Country: Poland
2011 Match Record: 46-18
2011 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 7
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the quarter-finals to Kim Clijsters.
Topspin: Currently the No. 8 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 289-134 … Was the WTA Ambassador for Habitat for Humanity in 2009 … This will be her sixth Australian Open.
Marion Bartoli
Seed: 9
Age: 27
Country: France
2011 Match Record: 58-25
2011 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 7
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the quarter-finals to Kim Clijsters.
Topspin: Currently the No. 9 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 427-260 … 2011 was her second top 10-ranked season … This will be her eleventh Australian Open.
Andrea Petkovic
Seed: 10
Age: 24
Country: Germany
2011 Match Record: 54-17
2011 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 2
2011 Australian Open result: Lost in the quarter-finals to Li Na.
Topspin: Currently the No. 10 ranked female tennis player in the world … Has a career singles record of 270-154… 2011 was a breakthough year for her, finishing in the top 10 for the first time … This will be her fifth Australian Open.
Other notables in the tournament include last year’s winner Kim Clijsters as the 12th seed. Serena Williams is the 13th seed and Jelena Jankovic is ranked 14th. Also, three Canadians will participate in the tournament. Vancouver native Rebecca Marino along with Quebec natives Stéphanie Dubois and Aleksandra Wozniak have earned direct entry into the main draw.