The 2010 WTA season gets underway this week with tournaments in Brisbane, Australia & Auckland, New Zealand. You can jump over to The Daily Forehand for my preview of the ASB Classic in Auckland.

Brisbane has attracted a star studded field of players all looking to kickstart their 2010 campaigns in week 1. The story of the field is undoubtely the return of former #1 and grand slam champion Justine Henin. Henin, returning after a year and a half away from the tour has a tough assignment ahead of her, as she faces the #2 seed Nadia Petrova in the opening round. Petrova seems to always draw the comeback players early, she played (and lost) to Maria Sharapova at Roland Garros last year, which was Maria’s 2nd tournament back.

The other Belgian comeback star Kim Clijsters is also in the field as the top seed. Kim will open 2010 against Tathiana Garbin, but looks to have an easy stroll through to the semifinals where she could face #4 seed Daniela Hantuchova.

Another interesting first round match-up is between #3 seed Ana Ivanovic against the hometown hero of last January Jelena Dokic. Dokic had two wins and a runner-up finish in 100K & 50K challengers last fall, to complete her injury plagued and short season. Former #1 Ivanovic has just slipped outside of the top 20, and only played one additional tournament after the US Open. Ana is on a three match losing streak, and has not reached the quarterfinals of an event since making the finals of Indian Wells last March.

Predictions:

1R Upset: WC-Justine Henin def. (2)Nadia Petrova (duh!)

Semifinals
(1)Kim Clijsters def. (4)Daniela Hantuchova
WC-Justine Henin def. (5)Alisa Kleybanova

Finals
(1)Kim Clijsters def. WC-Justine Henin

Feels like we’re back in the mid 2000s huh. Since, Justine announced her comeback I have been hoping for a Belgian showdown, and for Kim to finally get the better of Justine. This would be a big step at a small tournament, that I’d hope she’d be able to reproduce if they are ever on a bigger stage.