SERENA WILLIAMS, Kim Clijsters and Roger Federer are all confident of lining up at the Australian Open despite injury scares hampering their preparations for Melbourne Park.
With the Open just nine days away, the drawcard trio have done their best to allay fears the year's opening Grand Slam will be robbed of genuine star power.
Williams is nursing an ankle sprain, Clijsters a hip niggle and Federer a bad back which forced him out of the Qatar Open on Friday.
Defending women's champion Clijsters looks in best shape, despite retiring from Friday night's Brisbane International semi-final against Daniela Hantuchova, after receiving positive news from scans yesterday.
No damage was detected and the Belgian world No13, who felt her hip get tighter with every point after taking the first off Hantuchova, has been cleared for action at Melbourne Park after a couple of days' rest.
''I do have a good feeling,'' she said. ''It should take a little under a week to get completely healed and so that's what I am obviously hoping for, aiming for.''
There are most concerns over Williams, who rolled her ankle late in her second round victory over Bojana Jovanovski in Brisbane.
But before leaving Queensland for Melbourne yesterday, the 13-times Grand Slam champion gave every indication she would be fine to make her first Open appearance since landing her fifth crown two years ago.
''I'm doing everything to heal up and win from within,'' tweeted the former world No1, who was also positive about her chances after suffering the injury.
Both Clijsters and Williams were making their returns from long stints on the sidelines in Brisbane but they will still be feared if they line up at Melbourne Park close to full fitness.
Last year's Australian Open runner-up Li Na said she expected the pair to be major threats even without significant match practice.
''These two still have a high level, so even if they're injured they can still play good tennis on the court,'' Na said in Sydney. ''They're still dangerous players.''
Looking to end his two-year Grand Slam drought, Federer is ''optimistic'' he will be fit for the Open after pulling out of his Qatar semi-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The Swiss maestro, who will remain in the Middle East before flying to Melbourne midweek, played two matches with the problem before deciding not to risk it further.
''Although it's not very good it's not crazy bad,'' he said. ''I feel that without play and with the right treatment, I will get through it in the next few days.''
The star trio aren't the only players with injury concerns as Russian Alex Bogomolov (ankle) withdrew in Qatar and German duo Florian Mayer (groin) and Tommy Haas (calf) both pulled out in Brisbane.
On the women's side, mystery still surrounds Venus Williams who hasn't played since August due to an immune system disease but world No4 Maria Sharapova is training in Melbourne after pulling out of Brisbane before Christmas with an ankle problem.
.gif)
