First Grand Slam of the Year. Here's a snapshot of her quarter of the draw.

(3)Safina v. Kudryatseva
Makarova v. Rezai
Mayr v. Q
(25)Kanepi v. Q

(19)Hantuchova v. Dellacqua
Craybas v. Johansson
Petkovic v. Q
(15)Cornet v. Koryttseva

(11)Wozniacki
........
(17)Chakvetadze
(5)Ivanovic
........
(29)Kleybanova

Drawing Dellacqua is a disappointment, but you cannot complain with the potential second round opponents. Considering the other possibilities, I'm fairly content with Cornet and Safina as the seeded players in her quarter. She beat Cornet in Melbourne last year and really should have won in New Haven had she played even a decent match. Safina, while very good, is hands down the weakest of the top seeds given her lack of an extended track record as a top player. Of course, given Daniela's form over the past nine months, it's a bit silly to look past round one. But being a fan means you have to be optimistic when you can.

Dellacqua's a tricky opponent as she had a good run here last year, beating Schnyder and Mauresmo and she beat Bartoli at Roland Garros and Schnyder at Wimbledon, so she is someone who raises her game at Slams and with the home support, she can be a dangerous opponent. But she got absolutely thrashed by Errani in Sydney and lost to Kimiko Date (one woman veteran tour) in Tokyo qualifying in her last match of 2008. It is a match that Daniela should win provided she plays well, but Dellacqua can give Daniela problems. As Daniela's last year's semi-finalist and popular in Australia and Dellacqua's a top Australian there's a very good chance it'll be on either Laver or Vodafone, so a tv match

Should Daniela get past Dellacqua, I'd expect Daniela to beat Craybas or Johansson easily enough, although you've got to respect them as opponents.

Daniela beat Cornet here the previous two years and was unlucky to lose in New Haven, but Cornet had a good run in Sydney beating Petrova. While Daniela can beat her, Cornet will feel confident against Daniela.

Daniela has the winning record against Safina and has won the last three matches, but Safina's form and results have been much better than Daniela's since and she'd be the big favourite should they meet.

Fourth round is achievable and given Daniela's results and form since she came back from injury, that would be really good and her biggest winning streak since Indian Wells, although she has to take it one match at a time. Dellacqua and Cornet will both be difficult opponents before then. The Australian Open has always been a tournament where Daniela's done well and where she's had her best slam runs, so hopefully she can keep it up this year.

Apropos of nothing, but why is the Margaret Court Arena not just called the Margaret Court?

In her present form Daniela will need luck to survive the first rounds, but for more she really needs a wonder.

tricky opponent,at least tv match

Apropos of nothing, but why is the Margaret Court Arena not just called the Margaret Court?

Because Margaret Court is the woman's name, so if they left it at that it would be like calling a stadium the 'Roger Federer'.

Is it the same Margaret Court who's won more slams than anyone, the Grand Slam in 1970, shares with Daniela the distinction of a career grand slam in mixed doubles but lost to Bobby Riggs?

I really hope you can tell me because I know so little about tennis.

Apropos of nothing, but why is the Margaret Court Arena not just called the Margaret Court?

Because Margaret Court is the woman's name, so if they left it at that it would be like calling a stadium the 'Roger Federer'.

Is it the same Margaret Court who's won more slams than anyone, the Grand Slam in 1970, shares with Daniela the distinction of a career grand slam in mixed doubles but lost to Bobby Riggs?

I really hope you can tell me because I know so little about tennis.

Yes, your talking about the same person, that's her.

Quite happy with that draw. Ok first round could have been better, but thats a GS. Hope for a good run and a great result.

I'm sure you are.