Most of them will use the two upcoming weeks to prepare for the Australian Open, which starts January 17^th.

With four different Grand Slam winners last year we might see a season where major titles can be won by more than just one or two players. But will the Russian women dominate again? Will the Belgians be able to strike back? What about the Williams-sisters, can they find the hunger and desire to compete at the highest level again? Can Amelie Mauresmo finally handle the pressure?  These are some of the many questions that will be answered during the course of the season.

And then there’s the question that rises every year: who will be our new stars?

Among the high risers of last season was Dutch prodigy Michaëlla Krajicek, who is currently participating in the Hopman Cup for the Netherlands. After having finished in first position in the junior rankings being 15-years old, she’s hoping to climb even higher in the rankings after having ended the year in 244^th position.

Another 15-year old, Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, has already entered the dizzy heights of the top 100 with currently a 75^th position, after having won 2 singles titles in the last year.

And then there’s the third 15-year old, Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria, another young star in the making, currently in 133^rd position. She recently qualified for the main draw in the Uncle Tobys tournament currently being held in Gold Coast, Australia, with relative ease.

Looming large in front of us, though, is the Australian Open.

Early favourites are Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams after having ended the season in good form in the Masters Cup. Only slight favourites, though, because a host of players are nipping at their heels.

Justine Henin-Hardenne seems to be fully fit again after a quite disastrous year, despite winning the Australian Open and the Olympics. Amelie Mauresmo is hoping to finally overcome her mental issues and fulfill her great potential.

Then there’s Anastasia Myskina and Svetlana Kuznetsova, both Grand Slam-winners last year who are capable of making it through to the latter stages of the tournament.

And then last but not least a host of outsiders like Elena Dementieva, Venus Williams, Vera Zvonareva, Jennifer Capriati, Nadia Petrova, Alicia Molik and the others who devote their lives to become Grand Slam champions once. .

Plenty of ingredients to make this an exciting start to the new season and hopefully that excitement will carry on during the rest of the season, making it another season with great ups and the unavoidable big downs.