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Focus key for Clijsters

Image: Kim Clijsters: Is focusing on defending her title

Defending champion Kim Clijsters believes focus and fortune will be key in winning the Australian Open.

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Defending champion believes draw looks wide open

Defending champion Kim Clijsters believes focus and fortune will be key in winning the Australian Open. The Belgian former world number one, who has dismissed concerns over her fitness, has been pitted against a qualifier in round one in Melbourne. However trickier tests lie in wait with world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and last year's beaten finalist Li Na in the same quarter of the draw. With the last seven grand slam crowns won by six different players - only Clijsters has claimed two - the draw looks wide open, a point emphasised by the 11th seed. "When I was younger everyone was pencilling top seeds in the semi-finals and quarter-finals," said Clijsters. "That's totally changed now. There has to be a different mindset from the top players and you have to be focused from round one. There are new, upcoming players who I've never played that you have to be aware of. "The one who focuses the best and has a little bit of luck will be the winner."