The results of the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year at the 2010 Australian Open matter in different ways for each of the top eight women.  So what’s at stake for each of the players?

Serena Williams – Her performance here will set the tenor a bit for her year… how her body holds up and how well she plays…

Dinara Safina – No one expects much and given her back injury during the off season, a strong showing would shock many, but possibly jumpstart her year/career…

Svetlana Kuznetsova – Off the radar (again), but can she showcase her best tennis early in the season?

Caroline Wozniacki – Her performance here early in the new season will shed some light on whether she can continue the form she showed at the 2009 U.S. Open and maintain her high ranking…

Elena Dementieva – Looking strong coming in with a title again in Sydney, but she needs to come through and win a Slam to silence the doubters

Venus Williams – She’s struggled at times down under so the pressure is off, but she can play well on hard courts so why can’t she win another Slam not named Wimbledon?

Victoria Azarenka – She left Melbourne in tears a year ago, but armed with a new coach can she rekindle her mid-winter form from a year ago and challenge for her first Slam title?

Jelena Jankovic – A year ago, she was the number one ranked player without a Slam to her name, but can she ever win a Grand Slam singles title?