The contrast between the men’s and women’s finals at the Australian Open could not have been greater.

On Saturday, Victoria Azarenka thrashed Maria Sharapova to claim her first grand slam title and the No. 1 ranking. It was a result that suggested this year’s WTA season will be just as much as a free-for-all as 2011 was.

On Sunday, however, Novak Djokovic won his third successive major title as he overcame Rafael Nadal in one of the most amazing finals in tennis history. We can debate until the cows come home about whether it was indeed the greatest, but it was definitely the longest.

And what are the odds against the world No. 1 becoming the first man to hold all four grand slam titles since Rod Laver in 1969, when he goes to Nadal’s stronghold at Roland Garros in May?

Roger Federer, who has the record of 16 major titles, could not do it in his prime. Twice he had the chance to hold non-calendar year slams, but the Swiss star was beaten by Nadal in the finals of the 2006 and 2007 French Opens.

Nadal is by no means a spent force. He showed in Melbourne that he is closer to Djokovic than he was for most of last year, when he won a record-equaling sixth title in Paris after Federer ended the Serbian’s 43-match winning streak in the semifinals.

And a quick survey of online bookmakers shows that he is still the favorite for Roland Garros, with Djokovic a close second despite having beaten Nadal in seven successive finals.

Djokovic now plans to take time off as he focuses on a year that could see him win a “Golden Slam” – a feat previously only achieved by Steffi Graf, when she won the 1988 Olympic title.

It would be a superhuman effort for him to emulate that, meaning he would have to – on top of ending Nadal’s French reign - triumph twice on the grass of Wimbledon before defending his U.S. Open crown in September.

One man who will be determined to stop Djokovic when the fabled courts at SW19 host both Wimbledon and the 2012 London Olympics is Andy Murray, still Britain’s best chance of a first male grand slam winner since 1936.

The Scot pushed his friend to five sets and almost five hours in the Melbourne semis – a far cry from his thrashing in last year’s final – as he made an encouraging start under the tutelage of eight-time grand slam winner Ivan Lendl.

He showed far more aggression than usual, but crucial errors of the hair-tearing variety and an inability to hold his serve ultimately cost him victory.

And what of Federer? He didn’t drop a set until he faced Nadal, when he was once again muscled off court by the 25-year-old, who seems to supercharge his game whenever they meet.

It would be an unwise man who bets against Federer ever winning another slam, though I’d say he has more chance in a final against Djokovic than versus his great rival.

Maria Sharapova must be wondering when her next major title will come. Twice in the past year the Russian has stormed into a final with great hopes, and twice she has come away empty-handed after a straight-sets crushing.

It’s fantastic that she’s even contending for a fourth grand slam crown, given her severe shoulder problems in recent years, and she is clearly still massively popular – last week’s feature on her fashion business was by far the most-read sports story this year on CNN.com International.

Azarenka has been threatening a breakthrough win for some time, but whether she will be still be No. 1 come the end of the French Open is anyone’s guess – that’s the nature of the women’s game at the moment.

Last year three slams went to first-time winners, the only exception being Kim Clijsters. The Belgian failed to defend her Aussie title this month, losing to Azarenka in the semis.

She has made it clear she is desperate to win her first French Open crown – having twice been a runner-up - before likely retiring for the second time at the end of this year. Wimbledon is also on the three-time U.S Open champion’s agenda, having reached the last four in 2003 and 2006.

One player to complete a career slam at the weekend was Indian doubles specialist Leander Paes.

The 38-year-old teamed up with Czech Radek Stepanek to win the men’s title on Saturday, with the unseeded pair upsetting American No. 1s Bob and Mike Bryan – who were bidding to win an Open era record 12th grand slam.

Bob Bryan’s wife was due to give birth that day, but he revealed later that it didn’t happen as planned and he might get back home to Florida in time for the big moment.

It’s not long until the British Olympic swimming trials in March, and it’s really exciting because it’s the first time I’m going to see the new pool in London. Days are ticking by and it’s getting really close.

I’m really excited by the prospect of actually competing at the Olympic pool for the first instance in the trials, and then hopefully I can convert my times into a place on the team and compete there again in the summer. I went to Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, and I want to be involved again.

Having the Olympics in London will be amazing. I went to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and that was a fantastic experience. It makes it even more exciting because your family and friends can be more part of the whole concept of what you’re going for.

At home it’s more accessible for them and they can understand a bit more the passion you have for the sport. It makes it that extra bit special.

When I missed out on the team for Beijing in 2008 it was heartbreaking. I’d done everything I could but I fell at the last hurdle. They only take two competitors for each event, and at our trials you have to do the times on the day to go through. I did the time but I was third on the day.

After that I very much felt like, “I’ve trained for four years to do this, what do I do now?” There were about eight of us in that position after the Beijing trials. We went to the U.S. nationals, our last main meet of the year. Then it was a case of sitting around and back to the drawing board. Thinking about what to do, how to move forward and if I want to move forward.

I got married in the summer of ‘08 so there was all of that going on as well, and there were a few problems in my personal life, so swimming took a back seat for the first half of this four-year cycle. I fractured my ribs and that led to other complications with my back, so I was forced to take some time off - which was something I hadn’t done in 13 or 14 years swimming at the top of my game.

It’s something I wish I’d done sooner in life. It gave me time to appreciate what I had done, and when I did get back into swimming after about four months out, I was ready and raring to go, re-energized and wanting it even more. The hunger was back again. I wish it was something I’d done earlier.

The last six years I’ve been funding myself, so it’s a case of “I can do it without anyone’s help, I’m doing it my way and I can still do it well my way.”

I’m quite susceptible to being injury prone and illness prone, so it’s about keeping that at bay, keeping strong mentally. When you’re at the starting blocks, it doesn’t matter what happens from the neck down, it’s neck up. You could have the worst preparation but as long as you can get in the right frame of mind, everything else is irrelevant.

At the moment I’m doing eight or nine swimming sessions a week. I’m training myself. I’m doing a weight program that is assisted by Mark Foster, a legendary British sprint swimmer who was a world and European champion in short-course events. I worked with him before Beijing, it’s just the weights side of stuff and it’s something we’ve continued to do.

I also do coaching. When I had that forced time off I set up my own swim academy in Havant, outside of Portsmouth where I’m from. It’s something I always wanted to do, and I had time to do it. It’s my way of giving back to my local community. It’s not something I’ve just put my name on - I’m actually hands on with it.

It’s quite nice to do something that’s not directly about me. It’s so nice to be able to watch kids enjoy the water and progress to actually swimming. It’s very basic beginner level that we’re doing.

I’m going to be 30 not long before London 2012. Everyone always says that it’s good to be still swimming at my age, but I was doing it really well at a young age. For example you had Dara Torres, who won silver medals for the U.S. at the last Olympic Games - she was in her 40s. I can remember going to Sydney in 200 and it was a big deal because she was making her comeback at 30-something then. If you can hack it, why not.

What do you think? Is there anything you'd like to know about my bid to qualify? Do you have any questions about how athletes train for big events? Please let me know below and I'll try to answer them in my next blog.

Tiger Woods remains the biggest attraction in the world of golf. Despite a lackluster run that has lasted two full years, and being dogged by his off-course dramas, the former world No.1 has proven yet again why he can pull in a crowd with his season-opening appearance in the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi is an unusual place for him to start his season, but there were several key factors in his decision to begin the year on the European Tour.

Firstly, there was the lure of a healthy fee (estimated at $1.5 million) from sponsor HSBC to add value to its growing commitment to this hugely popular event. Secondly, there was the opportunity for him to kickstart his year by testing his latest mutation as a swinger of the golf club against the very best field in world golf. And thirdly, it represented a golden chance to begin his build towards the first major of 2012, the Masters Tournament in two months' time.

Woods has won the Masters on four occasions, most recently in 2005 when he defeated Chris DiMarco in a playoff and famously holed out his chip shot on the par-three 16th during a pulsating afternoon of golf. He's not won it since, and while tying the great Arnold Palmer for wins, he remains two precious victories away from Jack Nicklaus – who famously claimed his sixth Green Jacket at the age of 46 in 1986.

Majors are what motivate Woods the golfer. At 36 years of age he has more than enough time to match, and indeed surpass, Nicklaus' record haul of 18 major titles. With 14 majors in the bag, Woods has some serious achieving to do for the remainder of his career. While not impossible, it remains that he will have to win five more majors to become the undisputed "world's greatest."

That would represent a stunning career haul for any one of his peers. Only great rival Phil Mickelson comes close with four major victories - 10 shy of Tiger. It's now a question of desire, good health and smattering of good fortune.

Woods hasn't won a major since the U.S. Open in June 2008. His world imploded after crashing into a fire hydrant in November of 2009 and he has been in rehab, undergone surgery, been divorced and attempted several comebacks. He has been unable to tick all of the boxes, until now.

With a seemingly better balanced life off-course, new swing changes bedded in and a much healthier physique than has been the case in several years, Tiger Woods is back on the prowl.

For HSBC, he represents good value as the mirror of the bank's sports sponsorship and business strategies, helping spur growth in key markets like China, Brazil and here in the United Arab Emirates. Woods' inclusion in the field has the power to raise the non-golfing public's awareness of both the tournament and, most importantly, HSBC itself – one of the world's premier financial institutions.

Win or lose this week, Tiger Wood has returned to the stage that he thrives on, and that represents a win-win all-round.

The African Cup of Nations is coming to the end of its first week and, as I predicted before the start of the tournament, there have already been massive shocks and they are set to continue.

I’m delighted for Equatorial Guinea. Their victory over one of the favorites, Senegal, was a stunning result for a nation of just over 700,000 people and ranked 151st in the world.

They kept to a strict game plan and were rewarded with a 2-1 victory which eliminated Senegal, who will be going home after their final group game.

I believe that part of the problem for Senegal and other fancied teams who have failed to live up to expectations is that their English Premier League players find it difficult to blend with home-based squad members and those from other European leagues.

It should not be an excuse, but the EPL is such a fast-paced league that integrating its stars with other team members which such a short time to prepare is difficult.

The pitches and general conditions do not help either, and I never thought I would see rain like that in the African Cup of Nations! But Equatorial Guinea adapted to the waterlogged conditions the better, and their co-hosts Gabon are also doing well.

That’s brilliant for the tournament, with packed stadiums and a great atmosphere.

Despite the shocks, other big names are looking good and my pre-tournament tip Ivory Coast have started with a couple of good wins.

Arsenal’s Gervinho has been excellent for them and it was typical of Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to score their winning goal against Sudan.

He’s an inspirational figure in his country and does a tremendous amount for charity. It would be quite something to see him help the Ivory Coast to the title in the autumn of his career.

I came in for some criticism for not mentioning Ghana in my previous blog and it’s clear they have a great chance. But being the leading African country in the 2010 World Cup finals puts a lot of pressure on them and it won’t be easy.

Having said that they coped extremely well with being reduced to 10 men in their opener against Botswana and I thought Asamoah Gyan stepped up to the plate.

Don’t write off Tunisia either because the North African sides are so good technically.

After my previous posting I was asked questions about the value of local coaches against big-name imports. There’s a mix at this year’s tournament and it's too early to judge the outcome.

What I would say is that local coaches can find it difficult to manage star players from the big European leagues, simply on the basis of reputation, but you can’t use this as a reason why some teams underachieve. Playing in the tournament should be motivation enough, whoever is in charge of your squad.

I could not be more excited to see how the next stage of the tournament unfolds, but you won’t be surprised for me to say, expect more shocks.

If you believe the hype, Jose Mourinho is on his way out of Real Madrid. According to various reports and sources close to the Portuguese manager, he has had enough of dealing with the local press and the alleged discontent from the Spanish contingent in the dressing room and is ready to walk out at the end of this season.

Is this true? Yes and no.

I think he will quit the Santiago Bernabeu in June, but not for the reasons which have been circulating in the media over the last few days.

Let me start by explaining why there is tension at Real right now, ahead of Wednesday's Spanish Cup quarterfinal clash with great rivals Barcelona. Before this season started, the club’s sporting director Jorge Valdano was sacked. Mourinho didn’t see eye to eye with the Argentine and convinced Real president Florentino Perez that the team and the institution would be better without him.

This meant that the two-time UEFA Champions League winner had complete control of every football decision at the club. Not only was he in charge of tactics and the purchase of players, but he also had the independence to do and say whatever he wanted in the name of a club that has won the European title a record nine times - but not since 2002.

As great as this was for Mourinho, it didn’t please many senior members at Real Madrid, who believed he had proven to be too much of a loose cannon for his own good. They voiced their disapproval internally, but Perez stuck with his plan and gave Jose free rein.

There were various episodes this season which created more discontent among long-serving directors at Real: the eye-poking incident against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, the comments he made about wanting to return to England - and the back-to-back defeats to Barca in the league in December and then in last week's first leg of the cup quarterfinal. Not necessarily the results, but the defensive and aggressive way in which the team played did not please the institution. Portugal defender Pepe's stamp on the hand of Lionel Messi last Wednesday is one such example.

In my view, what has happened recently is that some people at the club have used their connections with local sports newspapers like Marca and As to persuade them to run stories about player discontent. The purpose, of course, is to increase the pressure on Mourinho and convince some of the fans that he is not as special as they once thought he was. These Real heavyweights have also probably encouraged some of the players to stand up for the old-school values of the club and take a stand against the manager.

So what about the reported row between Real defender Sergio Ramos and Mourinho, and the alleged dressing-room split between Spanish and Portuguese players? It is my belief that the argument happened, but I don’t read into it more than that. Mourinho is a manager who has always inspired and motivated his players, and even if there was unrest among a faction of the team, I would be shocked if they were to lead a mutiny against him.

After all, this is a side leading the Spanish league by five points, setting records for points and goals, and easily qualified for the Champions League knockout stages. So there is no real proof that the players are not behind their coach and that they will not continue to fight for him this season.

Which leads me to Mourinho’s future. Even though there is no obvious clue regarding what the former Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss will do next, and even if there is no mutiny within the squad, I still sense he will leave Madrid at the end of this season.

The 48-year-old feels betrayed and also feels that all the work he has done is not being appreciated. He thinks the current Barcelona side is probably the best of all time and that if his rivals weren’t this good, he would comfortably be winning titles in Spain and Europe.

Therefore my prediction is he will leave Spain behind in June and move to England to manage Manchester City. I know it is a bold call, but I believe it will happen. Even if Mourinho wins La Liga or any other trophy in Madrid, he will satisfy his desire to return to England to take on a project that would be as challenging as any he has ever undertaken in his career. He would be the perfect choice to take over from Roberto Mancini, who will be sacked when City fail to win the Premier League title this season.

That’s my story and I am sticking to it.

I'm passionate about the African Cup of Nations. I've played in it twice for Nigeria and it's the most amazing experience I have had in football, even better than the World Cup and the English Premier League where I play for Fulham.

In Africa, football really is like a religion. It unites people of all backgrounds, it brings them together in common cause, and victory in the Cup of Nations is considered the pinnacle of achievement.

But for some countries, like Libya, just getting to the finals is an incredible achievement. I'll certainly be looking out for them in this tournament and I'm really hoping they can qualify out of their group. I understand that some of their players were at the sharp end of the turmoil, even taking part in the fighting, as Gadhafi was toppled from power.

After that, to then make it to Gabon, that's quite something. For me, they encapsulate the real spirit of the Africa Cup of Nations and they could cause an upset. The likes of Ivory Coast and Senegal may be the favorites, but the magic of this particular tournament is its unpredictability.

In African football there really is no such thing as an upset result because they happen all the time. You have only to look to the qualifying – with my own country, defending champions Egypt and the likes of South Africa going out – to back that statement up. The best players from the continent play in the top European leagues, but when they go back home to play for their country they find very different conditions, with poor pitches and blazing temperatures.

It acts as a real leveler and the Africa-based players have a big advantage. A lot of them are fantastic athletes, very fit and hungry and keen to impress the many talent scouts from top clubs who will be out in force in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

I believe this is one of the reasons why Egypt have been so successful in the past because the bulk of the squad largely still play in their domestic league. But in their absence, I don't think you can look much beyond the Ivory Coast with their star-studded line-up including the likes of Didier Drogba and the Toure brothers, who like me play club football in England.

From a personal point of view, I'm desperately disappointed that the Super Eagles did not qualify to give me the opportunity to play in the Africa Cup of Nations for the third time, added to my appearance in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. We have a change of management now and I'm convinced we won't make the same mistake again next time.

I would love to be at those 2013 finals representing Nigeria, but for now I must make do with watching this year’s finals on television in London and receiving texts from my many friends who are playing. It still really hurts not to be there, but that's football and I can promise you the teams who have made it will put on a great show for the fans.

Editor's note: Do you have any questions for Dickson Etuhu? Let us know below and he will answer them in his next Cup of Nations blog.

The name Senna was already on many people’s lips on Tuesday, when the eponymous documentary picked up three richly-deserved BAFTA nominations. That Williams, the Formula One team so tragically and inextricably linked to Ayrton’s death, should choose the same day to announce the signing of his 28-year-old nephew, Bruno, was remarkably poetic.

So much has been written about Ayrton Senna that his story scarcely needs retelling, even if it remains utterly fascinating. But outside of his family connections, Bruno Senna is less well-known. Ayrton himself once said, “If you think I’m fast, wait until you see my nephew!”

But the 10-year-old’s racing career almost died too on that tragic day at Imola in 1994 when his family, quite understandably, forbade him to continue. However, following a decade’s hiatus from the sport, its lure finally proved too seductive, and Bruno took to the track once more.

Eight years on, perhaps that time away from the wheel has cost him in terms of his development. On a grid that features no fewer than six world champions, Senna faces almost unprecedentedly fierce competition.

Compare him to 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton - a year younger than Bruno, but thanks to his many years in the bosom of McLaren, vastly more experienced – and his performance is actually more notable than it first appears.

Senna follows legendary uncle in joining Williams

I spent an afternoon with Bruno at his home in Monaco last year, shortly after he joined Renault as a test driver. I remember trying to clear my head of thoughts of his uncle before I met him, certain that he must be tired of the comparisons. But enter Bruno’s apartment and Ayrton is an unavoidable presence. Pictures and mementos of the great man’s incredible life adorn the walls and, as many have remarked, Bruno’s likeness to him is quite startling.

Bruno is, however, quite a different character. Open and immensely likeable, he is also relaxed about the inevitable comparisons, and understandably fond of the memories he has of his uncle. He spoke warmly of Ayrton’s affection for his family and the time he gave its youngest members. “He loved kids, so me and my sister, we always had a great time with him,” he told me.

So what exactly does he bring to Williams, a 16-time world champion team that languished equal ninth in the constructors’ standings last season? The younger Senna has apparently impressed his new employers with his technical prowess.

I had a glimpse of his passion for technology when, somewhat hilariously, he accidentally dropped his phone down the toilet. Opening up a briefcase he revealed a galaxy of tools that would grace any engineer’s workbench, and proceeded to tinker patiently with the handset in an attempt to revive it.

He also brings a significant sponsor from his home country, which may attract cynicism from some commentators, but will certainly be welcome at a team that has struggled to match its rivals of late - making its last world title in 1997 seem a very long time ago indeed.

But it is the intangible quality that he brings to Williams, and in this new partnership, to Formula One that is undoubtedly the most compelling element to the story. Ayrton only competed in three races for Williams before disaster struck, and the subsequent trial and acrimony that surrounded the team following his death might lead many to assume the relationship was scarred forever.

But the name “Senna” has adorned every single Williams car that has raced since the accident, and there is a real sense that Bruno is already part of the family. Not only that, he has looked a more accomplished driver by the year and there are signs that, given the right car, he may well be a force on the grid.

Anyone who has seen the film “Senna” will have been struck by the glamor and romance that exuded from the sport in what was an extraordinary period in its history. There is no question that in the intervening years this has waned.

The pre-eminence of the somewhat divisive figure of Michael Schumacher and a lack of competitive racing lost the sport many casual fans for a while. The emergence of technology as the dominant feature of the cars has also made it somewhat opaque and a little cold at times.

But while the technology is clearly here to stay, over recent seasons the grid has given us some of the most competitive racing in years, and the youthful vigor of Sebastian Vettel, Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button has injected it with new life.

Perhaps the only ingredient missing was some of the romance evoked so powerfully by Asif Kapadia’s documentary. The combination of Bruno Senna and Williams brings that to the grid in spades. Many will want it to succeed.

Most of the talk leading up to this weekend's start of the 2012 African Cup of Nations has focused on the teams who won’t be there, rather than on the ones who will.

It's understandable, considering Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria – who have a combined total of 13 titles – didn’t qualify for the tournament, which will take place in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. That means we won’t be seeing the likes of Mohamed Zidane, Samuel Eto’o or Jon Obi Mikel, among others, in action over the next month.

However, just because three traditional contenders didn’t make it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care about the competition. Quite the opposite. There are other emerging powers on the continent and plenty of new players to discover over the event's three weeks.

Here are my tips on some of the teams and young players to watch out for. What do you think? Please let me know if you've spotted players that I've missed.

The contenders

Ivory Coast: My favorites to win the competition. The Elephants are the complete package: they have the talent, the spirit and the experience, with eight players of the regular starting XI boasting over 50 caps each. With a backbone featuring the Toure brothers and Didier Drogba, this is a team that will be hard to beat. They won all six qualifiers, scoring an average of over three goals per game, and are on track to capture their first crown since 1992.

Morocco: So much potential, so little substance. For years and years, Morocco has produced skilful players only to see them underachieve in major tournaments. This year it could be a different story. Manager Eric Gerets, one of Belgium's most-capped internationals, has introduced a winning mentality and the players seem to be taking to it. Watch out for the trio of talented midfielders: Houssine Kharja, Mbark Boussoufa and Adel Taarabt, who play in Italy, Russia and England respectively.

Senegal: The Lions of Teranga shouldn’t have any trouble finding the back of the net. Their forward line boasts the likes of Demba Ba, Moussa Sow and Papiss Cisse, all players who have been scoring goals for fun in England, France and Germany respectively. Add captain Mamadou Niang to the mix and you get an idea of just how good Senegal will be going forward. What about their defense? Well, they showed during qualifying that keeping clean sheets isn’t a problem either, conceding only two goals in six matches. Believe or not, the western African nation has never won the title. This year could change that.

Young and promising players

Mehdi Benatia (Morocco): Finding skilful attacking players has never been a problem for Morocco, but to get a defensive general like Benatia is truly a blessing. The 24-year-old center-back has marshalled the last line impressively for Italian Serie A club Udinese and is now looking to carry over his stellar form into the African Cup of Nations.

Kwadwo Asamoah (Ghana): When talking about Ghana, it’s easy to praise the talents of Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari. However, there is a new kid on the block who we should definitely not overlook. Kwadwo Asamoah is a central midfielder who could be the heir to Stephen Appiah’s throne. The 23-year-old, who also plays for title-chasing Udinese, is calm and composed on the ball. His tenacious tackling earns him a lot of respect in the center of the park.

Djalma (Angola): The speedy striker has improved dramatically over the last couple of seasons, plying his trade in Portugal’s first division. He impressed at Maritimo, earning a move to Europa League champions FC Porto in the summer. Many pundits expected him to struggle to make an impact, but Djalma has broken into the starting XI and at the age of 24 is showing that he could have a bright future with his club and country.

There are two burning questions ahead of the tennis season’s opening grand slam in Melbourne: can Novak Djokovic repeat his stellar form from last year, and will the women’s No. 1 be a major winner ?

Djokovic’s Australian Open preparations have been relatively low-key again, an approach that worked last year as he launched a 43-match winning streak in Melbourne and ended the year as world No. 1 with three of the four coveted crowns.

While in 2011 he played in the non-sanctioned Hopman Cup mixed teams event, this month the Serbian made do with scooping $250,000 at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.

The 24-year-old looked a broken and weary man at the end of last season, hampered by injuries and the exhaustion of playing 70-plus matches – losing only six.

Roger Federer, on the hand, looked like he’d found a new lease of life as he claimed the season-ending championship for a record sixth time.

But the world No. 3’s bid for a record-extending 17th grand slam title is looking less certain after losing to Djokovic in Abu Dhabi and then pulling out of his semifinal in Doha due to a back problem.

If he’s fit then he should be Djokovic’s main rival, but whether he can repeat his brilliant win in the French Open semis that snapped the Serb’s winning streak is yet to be seen.

Like Djokovic and Federer, former No. 1 Rafael Nadal skipped warm-up events in Australia.

The Spaniard’s early-season form has raised major doubts that he can be the force of old, losing to fifth-ranked David Ferrer in Abu Dhabi and then France’s current No. 15 Gael Monfils in the Qatar semis.

The 25-year-old won the Australian Open in 2009, but his motivation seemed to fall away badly at the end of last year after some demoralizing defeats by Djokovic. At this stage it would be hard to tip Nadal to win an 11th major on the hard-courts of Melbourne Park, despite his assertion that his problem shoulder is fixed.

However, he is on the same side of the draw as Federer and – notwithstanding his thrashing in London in November – has recently had the upper hand over his great rival in major events.

So what of the others? Andy Murray was runner-up for the past two years, and this year he’ll be under the guidance of former No. 1 Ivan Lendl as he seeks a breakthrough grand slam.

The British No. 4 seems to be getting closer and closer, and he beat Djokovic in their only encounter in Cincinnati last year, but doubts still linger about his mental toughness. They are drawn to meet in the semis this time, and it should be a closer affair than the straight-sets demolition that sent Murray into an early-season tailspin.

Ferrer showed last year that he can be a contender, beating Nadal to reach the semis, but it could be Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s chance to shine again. The 2008 finalist had a great 2011, and the Frenchman’s powerful all-action game can test any of the top four.

The last time a top-ranked player won a women’s grand slam was Serena Williams in Melbourne two years ago, but the American may struggle to extend her record Australian Open title haul to six due to a recent ankle injury - and an admission that she doesn’t actually love playing the game.

The pressure is on current No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki to lift a gorilla off her back and win her first major. The 21-year-old could lose top spot to five players in the field come the end of this month, with Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova the leading contender.

Neither impressed in the Sydney warm-up event, struggling outside in windy conditions after coming from the indoors Hopman Cup exhibition. But Kvitova beat Wozniacki in Perth, and last year showed she has real steel in the big events, topped off by her WTA Championships success.

Last year’s runner-up Li Na has come into form after a poor second half to last season, and the French Open champion should be a contender along with her third-seeded Sydney conqueror Victoria Azarenka – another player seeking her first grand slam title.

Maria Sharapova has been absent from the Aussie preambles, but the 2008 champion showed last year at Wimbledon that she is overcoming her injury problems before an ankle setback in Turkey ended her hopes of being year-end No. 1.

Defending champion Kim Clijsters, like Williams, comes into the tournament under an injury cloud. The former No. 1 may find a possible fourth-round rematch with Li to be an even tougher prospect than her three-set win last January if the Chinese star continues her resurgence.

Australians have high hopes for Sam Stosur, who won her first grand slam at September’s U.S. Open but has struggled under the weight of expectation so far in 2012.

So who are my picks? Djokovic and Kvitova. Let’s see how it goes.

This week I traveled to Zurich to cover the 2011 FIFA Ballon D’Or awards ceremony. The event crowned Leo Messi as the best footballer on the planet and Pep Guardiola as the top manager in the game.

No argument from me on both counts, as the little Argentine and the Spanish coach enjoyed a phenomenal year during which Barcelona won five out of a possible six trophies.

While I was in Switzerland, I was asked by several colleagues why I thought Barca were so good. Was it the academy, was it down to Messi’s brilliance, or Xavi’s playmaking ability perhaps?

Definitely they are all factors which have contributed to the club’s success, but after closely observing and speaking with the players and coach, I believe the truth lies deeper.

I am one of the privileged few who have had the opportunity to spend quality time with some of the world’s top athletes. Through my work at CNN and hosting galas for FIFA and UEFA, I have had an inside look at the lives and habits of football stars and I can tell you there is something about Barcelona’s coach and players that sets them apart.

It comes down to their mentality and philosophy, which is based on three factors: unity, equality and respect.

You know what Messi did when he won his third straight Ballon D’Or? He thanked Xavi. What did Guardiola do when he picked up his award? He dedicated it to his assistant Tito Villanova.

They forgot about their individual achievements and focused instead on the work of the group. It is never about "I", it is always about "us."

At the pre-gala press conference, I asked Guardiola and Alex Ferguson, another nominee for coach of the year, if Messi should already be considered one of the best players of all time.

Fergie didn’t hesitate. The veteran Manchester United coach praised the Argentine’s skills, comparing him with the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Diego Maradona and Pele.

What did Pep do? He immediately pointed out that Messi has only been able to shine because of the group of players that are around him, and emphasized that if he continues to work hard with his teammates, then one day he could perhaps be considered among the best in the history of the game.

To Pep, everyone is the same. Everyone is equally valuable. No wonder Samuel Eto’o was shipped out to Inter Milan in 2009. No wonder his replacement Zlatan Ibrahimovic was deemed surplus to requirements. Both of these players did not put the team before themselves, and that is just not acceptable as far as Pep is concerned.

When it comes to respect, I was very impressed with how much of it Guardiola - at 40, a relatively novice coach given that he took his first senior post at Barca in 2008 - has for the history of the game and how much players have for him.

Before, during and after the gala, Pep spent most of his time talking to Ferguson - the most successful British football manager after 25 trophy-laden years at Manchester United.

You could see the admiration in his eyes when he was speaking with the 70-year-old. Even though he has beaten the Scottish manager in two European Champions League Finals, and has an incredible haul of titles in his short tenure, it was clear to me he still felt like he was the apprentice and Fergie the master.

As far as Pep’s relationship with his players is concerned, I can tell you it is incredibly healthy. They respect him and esteem him and would do anything for him. Because they are all treated fairly and equally, they feel comfortable in their own skin and don’t have to try to be something they are not.

One final word about Messi. As Xavi told me this week, the 24-year-old will probably beat every record in his career, but let me tell you, he remains as humble as ever.

I interviewed Leo for the first time five years ago and I have spoken to him many times since, and he hasn’t changed. The money, the fame and the lifestyle have not affected him one bit.

He is still a kid who just loves playing football and hasn’t even realized how special he is. For the good of the game and Barcelona, I hope he never does.