One of the favorites for the title, sixth seed Venus Williams, lost as early as in the second round of the Australian Open, being beaten by world No.46 Carla Suarez Navarro.

The Spaniard saved a match point before beating Williams 2-6 6-3 7-5, who is yet to add an Australian Open trophy to her collection of Grand Slam titles. Suarez Navarro is playing only her fourth Grand Slam event, but she already has one notable results, the quarterfinals at last year’s French Open.

Venus started the third set strong, taking a 4-1 lead, but Suarez Navarro dragged herself back into it and saved herself on match point at 5-5. She then broke the next game and served out for a famous victory.

Second seed Serena Williams was extremely close to losing the second set, but the three-time Australian Open champion eventually defeated Argentine Gisela Dulko in straight sets 6-3 7-5.

Dulko wasted six set points and saved five break points before Serena won the game, then held her own serve to even the set at 5-5. Serena then broke again, after another long game featuring six deuces, before holding her serve to win the match with an ace.

Although Dulko was having a 5-2 lead in the second set, and although she had those six set points, Serena was calm, as if she had known she was going to win. Serena confirmed my impression by saying: "She had a couple of opportunities but I always felt I wasn't going to lose."

Except for Venus Williams and seed No.14 Patty Schnyder, all the seeds were victorious on day 4. (via BBC, photos: Getty Images)

Four WTA players have a chance of being ranked No.1 after the 2009 Australian Open.

Current No.1 and top seed at the Australian Open, Jelena Jankovic, is defending 900 points, having reached the semifinals last year. World No.2 Serena Williams reached the quarterfinals in 2008, and is hence defending 500 points. Dinara Safina, currently ranked third in the world, is defending only 4 points this year, as last year she lost in the first round. And finally, world No.4 Elena Dementieva is defending 280 points, having lost in the fourth round last year.

The winner of the 2009 Australian Open will receive 2000 points. The top four ranking positions are very close and here are some ranking projections:

• If Jelena Jankovic wins, she will remain No.1 regardless.

• If Dinara Safina wins, she will become No.1, regardless.

• If Serena Williams wins, she will become No.1 IF… she does not play Jankovic in the finals.

• If Elena Dementieva wins, she will become No.1 IF … she does not play Jankovic in the finals.

Moreover, with Jankovic winning her first round match at the Australian Open, Safina would need to reach AT LEAST the semifinals, while Serena Williams and Dementieva would need to reach the finals in order to have a chance to become the No.1 in the world. (photos: Ralf Reinecke)

World No.2 Serena Williams has signed a deal that will make her an equity partner as well as an endorser of Mission Skincare, a company marketing skin care products to those who engage in some form of exercise.

The tennis star will be involved in product development. Products include lip balm, sunscreen and foot cream.

Because of the terms of her Nike deal, Serena will not be able to wear a Mission Skincare logo on the court. (source: All Things Serena Williams, photo of Serena by Ralf Reinecke)

Three-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams reached the second round of the first Grand Slam of the year with a 6-3 6-2 victory over world No.123 Meng Yuan of China.

Williams didn’t lose any of her service games and won the match after 75 minutes on her first match point.

I have to say that Serena’s dress surprised me. She’s wearing nothing like we had expected. Oh well, we’ve learned so far that those predictions of future outfits should be taken with a grain of salt.

In the second round Serena Williams will play either Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus or Gisela Dulko of Argentina. (photo: Getty Images)

Is this really possible? Serena Williams is cutting back her spending on designer handbags and jewelry, the tennis star who has earned almost $22 million in career prize money and reportedly makes close to $10 million a year in endorsements.

The bag I'm carrying now is worth $12. I have really cut back. It's low tide for me. I'm not out there buying crazy things.

I still believe she simply likes that cheap bag, and the jewelry she can borrow anyway, like the 427-diamond necklace she wore in Sydney this month.

The Australian Open starts on Monday, and the 27-year-old Williams will begin her campaign for her fourth Australian Open title against China's Meng Yuan. (source: Reuters)