Pam's Picks
	Shriver Former WTA Tour pro Pam Shriver is providing ESPN.com with in-depth analysis throughout the Australian Open. Shriver, a tennis analyst for ESPN, was ranked as high as No. 3 in singles play. She won 21 singles and 112 doubles titles, including 22 Grand Slams.

MELBOURNE, Australia -- The women's draw is going much better than the men. It's starting to get close to some cool matchups. But at this tournament, it's almost like you do a physical check on how everyone is doing each day.

Although she's still playing, Venus Williams' knee injury made the women's draw seem a little more wide-open. Before, she was the overwhelming favorite and now that distance is closing. Venus is back down as a possible favorite along with Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati. After those three, then you've got Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin, Monica Seles and, if she's playing well, Amelie Mauresmo.

Capriati is looking better and better. She was not confident at the start after she lost to Alexandra Stevenson in a warm-up tournament. Capriati also had a bit of a hip problem and has it strapped, but she is showing signs of being able to defend her title. Before the tournament, she didn't look like she had a good chance to defend, but she's looking strong now.

As for the rest of the draw, this will be a year that people will get to know Iroda Tulyaganova. Mauresmo is still here and when she's on her game she is dangerous. So is Elena Dementieva, who in 2000 reached the finals at the U.S. Open before going on to win the silver medal in the Sydney Olympics.

Fourth-round picks
Martina Sucha, Slovakia, vs. Adriana Serr Zanetti, Italy
The two unknowns in the draw as Sucha, who won a small lead-up tournament, plays a good Italian player in Zanetti. It's an opportunity for both to have their best-ever major.
Pick: Tossup

Amanda Coetzer (15), South Africa, vs. Martina Hingis (3), Switzerland
Hingis is looking great, but Coetzer is tough. Hingis does pretty much everything Coetzer can do but at a level better. Expect Hingis to have her way.
Pick: Hingis

Monica Seles (8), United States, vs. Ana Isabel Medina Garrigues, Spain
Seles is strong and plays someone I've never seen here. That's a match you automatically expect Seles to win, but as she's gotten older she is less automatic than she used to be.
Pick: Seles

Magdalena Maleeva (13), Bulgaria vs. Venus Williams (2), United States
Venus got through her tough match in the third round, beating Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 3-6, 6-0, 6-4, and seemed to be doing much better with her knee. But it's day-to-day. How will she recover after her first tough three-set match? Maleeva is a tough opponent who can take advantage of it if Venus plays like she did against Kristina Brandi in the first round.
Pick: Venus