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| It’s amazing that a five-time Wimbledon champion hasn’t won a hard court Slam since 2001, when she won her second US Open. Venus had one great chance here in 2003, felling Serena in a classic three-setter in arguably the most competitive match the sisters have ever contested. The 28-year-old Venus may play until her early 30s, but really, time is running out on her chances to be able to out-leg the youngsters off grass. Last year, she suffered a heartbreaking three-set loss to eventual champion Ana Ivanovic. This is likely her last best chance to win the Australian Open title. | Spain’s most promising young player bloomed last year when, as a qualifier, the lefthander reached the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, knocking off Amelie Mauresmo and Flavia Pennetta, before she fell to Jelena Jankovic. The now 20-year-old and possibly the heir apparent to Slam winner Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Conchita Martinez also reached the semis of Bogota and Forest Hills. |
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| With her Wimbledon triumph and first WTA Tour Championships crown in November (her first Tier I outdoor crown in six years), Venus was in many analysts’ minds the 2008 player of the year. She didn’t play a warm-up event, but was very efficient in dispatching Angelique Kerber in the first round. | She fell in the second round of both Auckland and Hobart, but did grab wins over French veteran Nathalie Dechy and former top 5 player Anna Chakvetadze. She took a tough two-setter over Roberta Vinci in the first round. |
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| For Venus to prosper, she has to serve extremely well throughout the tournament, no easy task given how up and down she can be. It’s also necessary that she takes over the net because as good as she is from the back court, she can no longer punch the strong kids off the court. She is an excellent volleyer with fine instincts and if she establishes herself at the net and plays steady and smart from the baseline, she’s more than capable of winning the title. | Suárez is a fast, dedicated grinder who can also whip her left-handed forehand and has a solid two-handed backhand. She’s a strident competitor who doesn’t appear to fear the big occasion. But she isn’t very tall or powerful and her excessive spin does her little good on hardcourts. She needs to learn how to hit through the court more. |
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| Venus showed by winning the year-end Championships in Doha that she still has the right mix on hard courts. Against the fast left Suarez, she has to go hard at the Spaniard’s two handed backhand with her sweet backhand down the line, take advantage of Suarez’s heavily topspinned forehand, which often lands too short, and back her up with her service returns. Suárez isn’t used to launching passing shots, so Venus should come in on every mid-court ball. | The only way Suarez can win this match is to play super steady, mix it up and hope that Venus has no rhythm on the day. She’s going to have a terrible time returning Williams’ lightening first serve, as well as contend with her net rushes and vast experience. She has to dig in and not give up, for as great as Venus is, she’s prone to bad days at the office. |
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| The two have never played, but do share one opponent in common on hardcourts, Anna Chakvetadze, who Suarez just upset and who took out Venus on hardcourts in 2007. | |
