Projected paths of women's title favorites

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Following is a projection of possible opponents for the title favorites in the women's Australian Open draw (prefix number denotes seeding).

1-JUSTINE HENIN

The world number one opens her bid for an eighth grand-slam title with a clash against Japan's Aiko Nakamura and should cruise through to the fourth round, where Tatina Golovin of France could provide her with her first test.

Russian Maria Sharapova is her likely quarter-final opponent, although former world number one Lindsay Davenport could have something to say about that, while defending champion Serena Williams could be lurking in the semi-finals.

2-SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA

The Russian takes on Nathalie Dechy of France in the first round as she looks to build on her efforts at last year's U.S. Open, where she reached the final.

In what looks like the weakest quarter of the draw, the former U.S. Open champion's first test could come against talented Hungarian teenage Agnes Szavay, while sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze and Venus Williams could follow in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

4-ANA IVANOVIC

One of the finds of 2007, as she reached the final of the French Open and semi-finals at Wimbledon, Ivanovic is unlikely to be tested before the quarter-finals where she is likely to play Wimbledon champion Venus Williams.

Should she come through that match, she is likely to play second seed Kuznetsova in the semi-finals.

7-SERENA WILLIAMS

Having won the title 12 months ago having arrived with her ranking at 81, no one will underestimate the American, who will already be eyeing a semi-final against Henin.

Nicole Vaidisova could push her hard in the fourth round, while third seed Jelena Jankovic is likely to be her quarter-final opponent before the Belgian top seed looms large.

(Editing by John O'Brien)