Julian Finney (Murray), Mike Clark (Williams) / Getty Images

Andy Murray has his game at a new level and Venus Williams is primed for a strong 2009 making them the picks of Tracy Austin of NBCSports.com to win the Australian Open.

The third-seeded Djokovic is coming off an incredible 2008 which all started with his win in Melbourne. He is an extremely solid player and will be tough to beat. He prides himself on good preparation and seems to have grown comfortable with everyone looking at him as a Grand Slam champion. Another big year could very well be on tap for the Serbian.

Others to watch though not top contenders for the title include Tsonga and Americans James Blake and Andy Roddick. Blake got to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open last year before falling to Federer. Roddick’s been to the Melbourne semifinals three times.

Roddick has a new coach in Larry Stefanki, who has been around a long time and is someone who is very good at picking a player’s game apart and dealing with the goods he’s given rather than to try and completely change a player. For Roddick, hiring Stefanki was a good move. It could give him new spark and new ideas.

With Justine Henin retired, the No. 1 ranking on the women’s tour is up for grabs. Winning in Melbourne is a great way for Venus to take the first assertive step towards grabbing that prize.

As for Murray it’s not a question of if he will win a major, it’s a question of when and the when could arrive this year Down Under where the Scot could become Britain’s first Grand Slam champion since Fred Perry won at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 1936.

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Djokovic, Federer could meet in French SF again

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Headlines

• Label

Opinion: Nadal will beat Djokovic for French title

Cicma talks with SI's Wertheim about French

Djokovic bids for 4th consecutive Grand Slam title

Djokovic, Federer could meet in French SF again

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 ends Baker's run to win Open de Nice