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By Steve Tignor

Last week the men got down to business; this week the women join them—Serena Williams, Justine Henin, and Kim Clijsters make their U.S. debuts in Key Biscayne. Along with the top players come the early questions for 2007: Is the Williams’ surge a long-term proposition? Where’s Justine, mentally and physically, as the big events begin? Is Sharapova’s serve heading the way of fellow blond Russians Kournikova and Dementieva? Is Clijsters thinking tennis, or cake flavors? Should we keep watching Daniela Hantuchova—for her tennis, that is? Let’s see how it’s going to play out.

First Quarter

Look what we have here, right out of the gate: The top half of the top quarter alone is a pretty entertaining tournament in itself. Sharapova and Venus Williams are set to play in the third round, with the winner getting Serena. The winner of all that could face Nicole Vaidisova.

This is exceptionally difficult to call. Sharapova beat Venus here two years ago, then lost to her at Wimbledon in the last match they played. Serena had beaten Venus six straight times until Venus turned the tables in the last two matches they played, in 2005. And we all know what happened the last time Serena and Sharapova met. The problem for Serena is that she hasn’t played since, and her rust almost cost her in the early rounds Down Under. This time she may have to get past the big-hitting Lucie Safarova as she’s rounding back into form. Aside: Can you remember way back in 1999 here, when Venus and Serena first played a big final (Venus won 6-4 in the third)? They went on to dominate the sport, and then they didn’t. Maybe we’ll see them go at it on the same court again. Too bad it would be a fourth-rounder.

Semifinalist: Serena Williams

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