Kim Clijsters, the two time defending US Open champion, is the top pick to win the women's singles event at the 2011 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the calendar year. Clijsters, currently ranked 3rd in the world, has never won the Australian Open however that is a statement that can be said about several of the favorites.
Caroline Wozniacki, the second favorite, has never won the event nor has Vera Zvonareva, the 4th favorite
Maria Sharapova, the 5th favorite, won the event in 2008 although she was a first round upset victim last season as Maria Kirilenko hit form and made a run, through Sharapova, to the Melbourne quarterfinals.
With Serena Williams out of the draw, the best chance for a repeat champion at the 2011 Aussie is Justine Henin as the former champion made the finals last season. Her fitness/health is questionable at this point in her career and that makes her status as third favorite questionable as well.
Aussie hopeful Samantha Stosur, the 6th favorite, has enough promise to make the quarters or the semis however the fact remains that she has not had much success in her home country's Slam, having never made the quarters as a veteran of 8 Australian Opens now.
