Contrary to the Moorilla Hobart International where not even one seeded player reached the quarterfinals, the seeds at the Medibank International Sydney were doing strong in their second-round matches. Actually, six of the quarterfinalists are seeded players.

Top seed Serena Williams cruised past Italian Sara Errani 6-1 6-2 in 50 minutes. Good for Williams. Her first-round match was everything but easy, as she had to save four match points against Samantha Stosur.

Svetlana Kuznetsova was pushed to the limit by Estonian Kaia Kanepi, while Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva, Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki are safely through to the last eight of the season's first Premier series event.

Quarterfinal pairs at the Sydney International include: Serena Williams vs. Caroline Wozniacki, Elena Dementieva vs. Agnieszka Radwanska, Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Ai Sugiyama, Alize Cornet vs. Dinara Safina. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, photo by our dear reader Jacob who attended the tournament)

Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka and Marion Bartoli pulled out of the Medibank International Sydney because of injury and illness.

Russian world No.7 Zvonareva withdrew from her first-round match against Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues after suffering a bout of gastroenteritis.

Belorussian world No.14 Azarenka, who won her maiden WTA title last week in Brisbane, pulled out because of a mystery virus.

Bartoli, the world No.17 from France and the last week's finalist at the Brisbane International, quit her match against British qualifier Melanie South after just two games because of a calf injury. (source: Reuters, photos: Getty Images via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Top seed Serena Williams avoided an early exit at the Medibank International Sydney, fighting off four match points against Australia's Samantha Stosur in the first round.

Stosur was serving for victory at 5-4 in the third set, and even earned a 40-0 lead. However, the American leveled, then held her own serve, and then broke Stosur’s serve in the following game to win the match 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-5.

Williams will next play either Italian Sara Errani or another home favorite Casey Dellacqua.

Fifth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia also survived a scare on the first day of the Sydney International, coming from a set down to defeat Peng Shuai 3-6 6-1 6-3. (via Tennis Head, photo: Tennis Channel)

World number two Serena Williams has arrived in Sydney and will shake off the Christmas-New Year rust at the Medibank International. The American declared she was fully fit to start competing.

"I don’t think I have any hammy problems. I’m good, yeah," said Williams, who withdrew from the Hopman Cup citing hamstring injury.

Serena also promised to reveal her new line of tennis clothes in Melbourne, where she will be fighting for her fourth Australian Open title.

The Medibank International starts January 11th in Sydney and Serena Williams is the top seed, ahead of Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva, Vera Zvonareva and Svetlana Kuznetsova. (source: Australian Open, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

World No.1 Justine Henin of Belgium won the Medibank International in Sydney, while world No.42 Eleni Daniilidou of Greece won the Moorilla Hobart International in Hobart.

Justine Henin won her 28th match in a row beating world No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the Medibank International. It was not an easy victory for Henin, but she overcame the challenge and beat Kuznetsova for the 16th time in her career. Read more »

Amelie Mauresmo and Na Li have withdrawn from the Medibank International, the last major tuneup event before the Australian Open.

Mauresmo has re-injured her left thigh, while Li has a right knee injury.

Read more »

Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams have reorganized their schedules and decided to skip the Medibank International in Sydney.

The two former world number ones will instead prepare for the 2008 Australian Open at the J B GROUP Classic exhibition in Hong Kong which will take place from January 2-5. Apart from Sharapova and Williams, the exhibition in Hong Kong will include Daniela Hantuchova, Elena Dementieva, Ana Ivanovic, Anna Chakvetadze, Peng Shuai, and Caroline Wozniacki.

However, world’s top-ranked player Justine Henin will participate in the Sydney's tournament as the leader of the women’s draw.

The 2008 Medibank International will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre from January 6-12.

After skipping the Australian circuit in 2007 because of personal problems, world number one Justine Henin is eager to start the upcoming tennis season at the January 6-12 Medibank International in Sydney.

“I am very excited to be returning to Sydney. As everyone knows the start of 2007 was a very difficult time for me personally and I really missed playing the Australian circuit, but this will make me even more eager to do well in January,” said the 25-year-old Belgian. “I was sad I wasn’t in Australia this year and I hope to take my revenge in a few weeks.”

Henin already won two Medibank International trophies, and in January she’ll compete for her fortieth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title. (via On the Baseline)