<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sports Illustrated&lt;em&gt;'s&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&amp;nbsp;Jon&amp;nbsp;Wertheim&amp;nbsp;breaks down the women's seeds at the 2016 Australian Open. Read on for the dark horses, top first-round matchups and predictions, and&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em &gt;find the men's seed report here.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;\r\n\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;1. Serena Williams&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It\u2019s all about the body. If her knee is as bad as we\u2019ve heard it to be, she could lose any time. Virtually no match play coming in. But we\u2019ve seen her win majors at less than 100% and\u2014on track record alone\u2014she has to be considered a big favorite.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;2. Simona Halep&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Like Serena, health and fitness are key. The ankle/Achilles injuries that troubled her in 2015 still appear to be waging war. Draw will help and she may not get a top-100 opponent until round three.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;3. Garbine Muguruza&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;More players, more injuries. Retired in Brisbane with a left foot injury. If it heals, the Spaniard has a real chance to claim her first major.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;4. Agnieszka Radwanska&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Really admirable job reviving her game after a 2015 slump saw her exiled from the top 10. The power shortage is always a concern; but she\u2019s playing with confidence and is in position to take advantage of the injured field. Potential second rounder against Bouchard intrigues.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;5. Maria Sharapova&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Like the aforementioned, health and fitness will determine a lot. A five seed (not unlike Nadal in the men\u2019s draw) who has won the event but comes in with a lot of question marks. Doesn\u2019t help that she\u2019s in Serena\u2019s half of the draw.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;6. Petra Kvitova&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The usual scouting report applies. Her lefty ballstriking could be the engine for greatness. But will her head\u2014and discomfort playing in rough conditions\u2014get in the way?\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;7. Angelique Kerber&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Solid player who can be a most uncooperative opponent. Has had some nice results in Melbourne and looks to be in form. Not a lot of weapons but enough defense and fitness and spunk to play up to her exalted seeding.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;8. Venus Williams&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gets a top eight seeding on account of the Safarova (illness) and Pennetta (retirement) absences. Two ironies: at age 35, she may be in the bottom bulb of the hourglass, but she is among the healthier players. For all her success, she has never won in Melbourne and has reached only one final.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;9. Karolina Pliskova&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Remains the best player you\u2019re unlikely to have ever seen play. Now she needs a Slam breakthrough.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;10. Carla Suarez Navarro&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A game that\u2019s easy on the eyes but doesn\u2019t tend to correlate with deep runs. That said, she won\u2019t play a top-100 foe until the round of 32.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;11. Timea Bacsinszky&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;One of our favorite stories in tennis, but her results have cooled off since last summer.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;12. Belinda Bencic&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Swiss will attempt to stave off a sophomore slump. Tough first rounder against American vet Alison Riske.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;13. Roberta Vinci&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In her first Slam since the Serena-slaying, Italian will try to build.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;14. Victoria Azarenka&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ranking be damned, she is a top five player. Not for nothing is she is second with the oddsmakers. Former No. 1. Former winner in Melbourne\u2014twice! And is playing strong, confident tennis to start the year.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;15. Madison Keys&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hasn't built much on her Australian Open semifinal run, but it's mostly owed to ill health. Tough first rounder against Zarina Diyas.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;16. Caroline Wozniacki&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Steals a top 16 seeding\u2014meaning she won't play a higher-ranked opponent until round four\u2014and then it\u2019s Serena. But her game is not where she wants it to be.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Seeds 17-32&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;21. Ekaterina Makarova&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A solid, athletic player who puts together nice results at majors (and has a win over Serena in Melbourne)\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;23. Svetlana Kuznetsova&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Former Grand Slam champions always get listed.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;24. Sloane Stephens&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Her groove is back. Already has a title in 2016.\r\n\r\n&lt;h3&gt;25. Sam Stosur&lt;/h3&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We all know about her struggles in general and at her home Slam in particular. But former Grand Slam champions (2011) always get listed.\r\n\r\n&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dark Horses&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Daria Gavrilova: &lt;/strong&gt;Plucky, likable local player.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Camila Giorgi: &lt;/strong&gt;Maddeningly erratic, but tons of game, especially for such a physically slight player. If Serena isn\u2019t healthy, look out.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CoCo Vandeweghe: &lt;/strong&gt;A work in progress but can win matches on the serve alone.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Genie Bouchard: &lt;/strong&gt;What a difference a year makes. If she wins a match or two, it will be a good event. That said, she\u2019s looked good to start the year.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Heather Watson: &lt;/strong&gt;A lot of game, especially on a fast surface.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dominika Cibulkova: &lt;/strong&gt;A Melbourne finalist\u2014and top ten player\u2014just two years ago. You can beat her, but she makes you work for it.\r\n\r\n&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;First round matches to watch&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Serena vs. Giorgi: &lt;/strong&gt;Both draw the highest-ranked player they could.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bencic vs. Riske: &lt;/strong&gt;Intriguing contrast in styles.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Kuznetsova vs. Daniela Hantuchova: &lt;/strong&gt;A guaranteed three-setter.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Victoria Duval vs. Elina Svitolina: &lt;/strong&gt;Welcome back, Vicky Duval.\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bouchard vs. Radwanska: &lt;/strong&gt;Yes, it's a likely second rounder but too good to ignore.\r\n\r\n&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Upset Special&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;All about the injuries. Among Serena, Halep, Sharapova and Kvitova\u2014strictly as a matter of probability\u2014you\u2019d think one will be unable to post.\r\n\r\n&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Doubles winners&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hingis-Mirza. Approaching Serena/Djokovic levels as the best in the biz.\r\n\r\n&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Semifinals&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Serena* vs. Radwanska\r\nAzarenka vs. Venus\r\n\r\n&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Final&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Serena d. Azarenka\r\n* Assumes reasonable\u2014if not full\u2014health\r\n\r\n&lt;/p&gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.si.com/tennis/2016/01/15/2016-australian-open-womens-seed-report-top-matches>