There are few better ways to signal your readiness to compete on Tour than by blanking your hapless opponent. Having skipped the Brisbane International earlier this month citing a collarbone injury, all eyes were on Maria Sharapova today to see what kind of health she was in heading into the Australian Open.

Sharapova made the most of an early start, and the cooler conditions that prevailed to race past an unfortunate compatriot in Olga Puchkova in just 55 minutes, registering his first double bagel win in Australia, 6-0, 6-0.

A widely-held opinion among some of tennis’  finest writers and analysts is that 2013 could well be the most interesting ‘tennis year’ in close to a decade. The last few years have been spectacular, but at the same time have been predictable and very often, one-sided. With four different men's champions at the Grand Slams last year for the first time since 2003 and a number of players on the ‘verge’  of winning their first majors, this season promises to be an intriguing and open one, leaving tennis fans across the globe salivating in anticipation.

And so we start 2013 with the first Grand Slam of the year, the ‘happy slam’, the much-loved Australian Open. Sure, there have been a few tournaments played in the lead up to this Grand Slam, but once the Australian Open gets underway, there’s always that sense that tennis is back for the season.

The top three seeds at the 2013 Australian Open are defending champion Victoria Azarenka, last year’s French Open champion Maria Sharapova and 2012’s golden girl Serena Williams. Azarenka began 2012 with a bang by making short work of Sharapova in straight sets at the Australian Open 6-3, 6-0. Sharapova slowly clawed her way back into form and won the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam. Serena lost in the first round at Roland Garros and the critics wrote her off. But she proved them wrong and how! She bounced back to win Wimbledon and the U.S Open taking a break in between to win a Gold Medal at the Olympics. She continued that blistering run of form into 2013 with a dominant performance at Brisbane. This clearly makes her the favourite at the event and the person to beat.

Now, that the draws have been announced let us get down to the brass tacks and analyse the women’s section more closely.

The draw for the 101st edition of the Australian Open took place in Melbourne today and wasn't particularly kind to any of the top seeds. Defending men's champion and world no.1 Novak Djokovic will open his title defence against Frenchman Paul Henri Mathieu, and faces a possible quarter-final showdown against the no.5 seed Tomas Berdych. David Ferrer is the highest seed in Djokovic's half of the draw, meaning Roger Federer and Andy Murray were drawn in the same half of the draw once again.

Federer hardly has it easy either with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga drawn in his quarter, and a possible third round meeting with Aussie hotshot Bernard Tomic. Federer will open his campaign against Benoit Paire.

World No.2 Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Brisbane International 2013 with a right collarbone injury.

Cameron Pearson, Brisbane International Tournament Director, said: “We feel for Maria because we saw first-hand how badly she wanted to play for the people of Brisbane. She has been fantastic since she got here and worked hard in the gym, on court and in the medical room to do everything she could to get herself right. Unfortunately she didn't make it. We hope that she can recover sufficiently from the injury to take the court for the Australian Open and wish her all the best for the summer,” Pearson said.

The strongest ever women's field is set to battle it out at the Brisbane International in 2013, with eight of the top 10 women confirmed for the event.

The star-studded field is headlined by world No.1 Victoria Azarenka (BLR), the inaugural winner of the Brisbane International, and includes world No. 2 Maria Sharapova (RUS) world No.3 Serena Williams (USA), world No.5 Angelique Kerber (GER), world No.6 Sara Errani (ITA), world No.8 Petra Kvitova (CZE), world No.9 Samantha Stosur (AUS) and world No.10 Caroline Wozniacki (DEN).

Pre-tournament favourite Serena Williams beat Russian diva Maria Sharapova in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 to end a perfect week in exemplary fashion to win the WTA Championships for a third time. The legendary American, a winner of 15 Grand Slam titles, had not dropped a set all week, and was once again in supreme form hammering 40 winners to cruise to a comfortable win.

The 31-year old American continued to show that age was no barrier to success on the WTA Tour as she ended the year with an incredible 7 titles including two Grand Slam triumphs at Wimbledon and the US Open, and an Olympic Gold Medal.