Mark Baker / AP

Venus Williams should be helped by several factors including a favorable draw in her bid to win her first Australian Open title, writes Tracy Austin of MSNBC.com.

This time could be the charm
At 27, some might say that Venus is running out of time to win here, but I disagree. In fact, with a favorable draw and good preparation, this fortnight provides her with a great chance to add a hardcourt title that has surprisingly eluded her. She has plenty of reasons to be motivated in this major, maybe the most stinging of which occurred the last time she played Melbourne -- 2006, when she was stunned in the first round by Tsvetana Pironkova, who is currently No. 94.

Age is relative. Look at Andre Agassi, who stayed near the top until age 35. Roger Federer talked last year about wanting to play for another nine years and he's 26. It's all about motivation and the ability to stay fit and focused. And deep down it's about desire. Venus has that desire and I don't see it diminishing at all.

Also, I really like that both she and Serena played more in the fall than they usually do. Each made an effort to qualify for the year-end championships. That's a good sign. And Venus looked especially impressive following the U.S. Open. She played in three tournaments, winning one (Seoul) and posting a 12-2 record. She won her first nine matches following the year's final major. That was a strong hint she gearing up for 2008.

A sister act might be a hit
Is another all-Williams Grand Slam final out of the question? Absolutely not, though there are a lot of rounds to be played before that could become reality. Expect Henin to have a lot to say about that scenario. The Belgian won here in 2004 and made the final in 2006, having to retire early in the second set against Amelie Mauresmo due to a gastrointestinal illness. She had lost the first set, 6-1.

Henin is coming off the best year of her career, with two majors and a career-high 10 titles. She looks confident and relaxed. Despite a lack of size (she's 5-foot-5), Henin is a complete player. Her serve is not as big as that of some of the other elite players but it's very solid. I'm sure seventh-seeded Serena is just happy to have Henin not be in her quarter of the draw after losing to her in the final eight in three majors (French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open) last year.

If Venus and Serena do reach the final, I'd give Serena the slight edge. She has owned Venus in major finals, winning five of six they've contested, though the last one was more than four years ago at the 2003 Wimbledon. Serena also has won twice in Melbourne. Venus won their last two meetings back in 2005. Two years is a long time in tennis. Maybe this incredible and unlikely rivalry will renew -- it's tied, 7-all -- on the court where they had perhaps their most stirring final.

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Headlines

• Label

Djokovic, Federer could meet in French SF again

Djokovic bids for 4th consecutive Grand Slam title

Sharapova ready to take game by storm again

I lost focus after French Open title, says Li

Monfils pulls out of French Open with knee injury

Almagro beats Simon to reach Open de Nice final

Radwanska reaches final of Belgian Open

Schiavone reaches Strasbourg semifinal