Australian Open Gallery: Pre-Tournament Buzz
Published January 15, 2012 12:00
Five-time champion Serena Williams was one of the first WTA stars to grace the courts of Melbourne.
Kim Clijsters, the defending champion at the Aussie Open, hit the practice courts this past week.
Ana Ivanovic, who reached the Australian Open final back in 2008, fine tuned her game in Melbourne.
Defending champions Kim Clijsters and Novak Djokovic helped out at the draw ceremony Friday afternoon.
Ana Ivanovic posed with ballboys and ballgirls on the steps of Melbourne's parliament buildings.
Serena Williams held an event ahead of the tournament to unveil this year's Australian Open dress.
Serena Williams has captured five Australian Open titles, more than anyone else in the Open Era.
Kim Clijsters was as high as No.1 in 2011 but fell out of the Top 10 after an injury-marred second half.
Sam Stosur honed her big forehand. Stosur won her first Grand Slam title at the last one, the US Open.
Sam Stosur posed with Captain Feathersword and Dorothy the Dinosaur of popular kids' group The Wiggles.
Sam Stosur and Kim Clijsters were among a number of star players involved in a children's event Saturday.
Li Na at Sunday's player party. Li became Asia's first Grand Slam finalist in Melbourne a year ago.
Jelena Dokic at the player party. Dokic reached her first Australian Open quarterfinal in 2009.
Maria Sharapova arrived at the player party on Sunday night, held at the glamorous Crown Towers.
Maria Sharapova has three Grand Slam titles, one of them coming here in Melbourne four years ago.
