Seeds in danger

THE most surprising result in the opening stages of the Australian Open last year was Maria Sharapova's loss to Maria Kirilenko in the first round. Which seeds could make an early departure from the draw this year?

Potential round one upsets

(1) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Gisela Dulko (ARG)

WOZNIACKI gained the No.1 ranking last autumn but the Dane faced some criticism due to her lack of Grand Slam success and her early season form, as well as a difficult draw, means she might have to wait before she can quieten her critics with her first Grand Slam title. Her first round opponent is world No.1 doubles player Gisela Dulko from Argentina, who has an appetite for producing an upset performance at Grand Slam level. Dulko defeated Victoria Azarenka twice and Ana Ivanovic in Grand Slams last year as well as eliminating Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2009. Wozniacki, who lost in the second round in Sydney, is still expected to progress but Dulko, while perhaps lacking the weaponry, is still capable of giving the No.1 seed more than just a stern challenge.

(3) Kim Clijsters (BEL) vs. Dinara Safina (RUS)

THE Russian might be a pale shadow of the player who reached the No.1 spot and two Grand Slam finals in 2009 but given Clijsters' collapse in the final of the Medibank International in Sydney and her third round loss to Nadia Petrova last year, is this match really a foregone conclusion?

(12) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs. Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN)

THE Pole made a late decision to compete here after suffering a stress fracture in her foot last autumn but her visit to Melbourne Park could be an abbreviated one as she takes on indefatigable Kimiko Date-Krumm, who turned pro in the same year Radwanska was born. The Japanese enjoyed a giant-killing spell at the end of last year with wins over Maria Sharapova, Samantha Stosur and Li Na and will be by no means unnerved by her higher ranked opponent in the first round.

(21) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) vs. Jarmila Groth (AUS)

GROTH has been the most impressive from the home contingent in the build-up but the former Slovakian needs to overcome Yanina Wickmayer if she wants to emulate her fourth-round appearances from Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Groth has reached the final in Hobart and the big-serving Aussie also upset Samantha Stosur in Brisbane last week so she's more than capable of prevailing, although Wickmayer is a feisty competitor and won't give up without a fight.

(26) Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) vs. Greta Arn (HUN)

THE Hungarian veteran comes fresh from a resurgent performance in Auckland where she defeated Maria Sharapova, Julia Goerges and Yanina Wickmayer en route for her second WTA title. Martinez Sanchez isn't the most proficient hard-court exponent, which makes this a favourable draw for the 31-year-old, whose ranking was too low to make the cut-off for the qualifying event last year.

(32) Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) vs. Pauline Parmentier (FRA)

SINCE reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year, Pironkova has failed to achieve anything of real acclaim. The Bulgarian's win-loss record since SW19 stands at a paltry 5-9 and she suffered the indignity of a 6-4 6-0 loss to world No.185 Mandy Minella in the second round of the US Open last year.

Potential round two upsets

(7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Peng Shuai (CHN)

SINCE retiring with a back injury in the fourth round of Wimbledon last year, Jankovic has only amassed six victories and the former world No.1 is currently on a six-match losing streak. The Serb is likely to face Peng Shuai in the second round and the Chinese No.3 is in a rich vein of form with semi-final showings in Auckland and Hobart and Peng also defeated Jankovic in their most recent match-up in Beijing in 2009. Another possibility is a second-round match-up with Kateryna Bondarenko from Ukraine, whose sister Alona upset Jankovic in the third round last year.

(14) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. Elena Vesnina (RUS)

SHARAPOVA'S name is still bandied around as a potential winner of Grand Slam titles but the 23-year-old hasn't made a deep run at a Grand Slam since claiming the title in Melbourne Park in 2008 and a lethargic showing in Auckland doesn't invite much confidence either. In the second round, Sharapova could face compatriot Elena Vesnina, who defeated Sharapova in straight sets in Beijing last year.

(20) Kaia Kanepi (EST) vs. Julia Goerges (GER)

THE Estonian re-emerged over the second-half of last year, improving her ranking from No.140 in May to No.22 in October and back-to-back quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open helped the Estonian to her best ever finish. Kanepi is tipped for the top-20 again but re-entry might have to wait as the very talented Julia Goerges could halt Kanepi's ascent.

(23) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)

EVER since claiming the French Open title in 2009, Kuznetsova has been drifting further towards the fringes of women's tennis and early exits in Auckland and Hobart are indicative of this. Meanwhile, Mattek-Sands has been regaining ground in the rankings after two injury-marred seasons and will come fresh from reaching the final in Hobart.

(31) Lucie Safarova (CZE) vs. Klara Zakopalova (CZE)

FOR all her talent, Safarova's recent Grand Slam form leaves a lot to be desired and the Czech No.2 has a potentially difficult second round match-up against countrywoman Klara Zakopalova, who ousted top-seeded Marion Bartoli in Hobart.