Federer and Sharapova on course for titles

With just four players remaining in the singles, the Australian Open is at the business end, with Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova seemingly on course for the titles.

The original preview, for anyone interested, is below:

Australian Open preview
Anyone thinking of betting on the men's winner of the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Monday, must first decide what to do about Roger Federer.

The world No 1, champion in Melbourne in 2004 and 2006, is going for his sixth grand-slam title in the last eight and is so far clear of the rest that bet365 make the Swiss a massive favourite at 4/11 (1.36).

The thing is, Federer does not lose to poor players. Only two men beat him last year, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, and the last time he lost to a player I'd consider not to be right up there among the best was way back at the French Open of 2003, when he was beaten by Luis Horna.

Big-match player
When the big events come round these days, Federer is never found wanting so it will take a top player who's right at the top of his game to stop him. And you can count the number of players capable of doing that on the fingers of one hand.

Nadal, Marat Safin and perhaps David Nalbandian and Murray are the only ones I think Federer fears. Nadal, who's 15/2, can probably be discounted as he is carrying an injury and could also play Murray in round four. Murray, a 25/1 chance, has made great strides in the last 12 months and is a serious threat. The signing of Brad Gilbert as his coach was a masterstroke and it would be no surprise to see him go well.

Safin, as always, is a bit of an enigma. However, the Russian ended last year back inside the world's top 30 after a good run and could be a real danger at 28/1. He is likely to play Andy Roddick, another man in top form, in the third round, but if he plays his best on that day, he should progress. He won the Australian Open in 2005 and has been runner-up twice.

Safin or Roddick are the men likeliest to meet Federer in the semi-finals, but if you're looking for each-way value, then you probably want the other half of the draw, which includes James Blake, Murray, Nadal, Nikolay Davydenko and Nalbandian.

Blake has enjoyed the best 18 months of his career and Melbourne could be the one place he may just win a grand-slam event. At 16/1 he is not great value, but is becoming more and more consistent and could go well.

Sharapova favourite
Russian Maria Sharapova is the one to beat in the women's event, at least according to bet365, who make her just 2/1 to wrest the crown from Amelie Mauresmo.

In winning the US Open title in September, Sharapova played arguably the best tennis of her life, outgunning Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final, and she is playing some hugely consistent tennis.

Refreshed after a break, she is fully fit and is the one the others will fear, and also has a great draw, to the semi-finals at least. There she could meet her toughest opponent, Kim Clijsters.

The Belgian will be thankful that her compatriot Henin-Hardenne is absent for personal reasons, but regardless of that, Clijsters is likely to be the main danger.

Strong, fast and hugely motivated in what she promises to be her last year on tour, Clijsters began the year with two tournament victories and has a dream run to the quarter-finals. There she should face Martina Hingis, who will not be easy to beat, but a place in the last four seems a certainty. At 4/1 she will have plenty of support.

Mauresmo, a 7/2 chance, who should be inspired by the return to the scene of her first grand-slam victory 12 months ago, looks a little under-prepared while Serena Williams is another not in the best of shape after injury.

Jelena Jankovic will fancy her chances of a first grand-slam win after pushing Clijsters hard in the final last weekend. A semi-finalist at the US Open, she is high on confidence and has the power to upset the favourites.

The other Russians - Nadia Petrova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dinara Safin and Elena Dementieva - all have chances but also have their weaknesses.

In the end, the winner of the Sharapova-Clijsters semi-final, if it comes about of course, should take the title.