Venus Williams prepares for Australian Open

Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion Venus Williams will use the Australian women's hardcourt championships starting on Sunday as a warm-up for the Australian Open which begins on January 14.

The American is top seed for the championships at Royal Pines resort.

"Having Venus here is as big as it gets in women's tennis," tournament director Liz Smylie said on Saturday.

"She gears her preparation around small tournaments and she obviously thinks this tournament has the ingredients she needs for the grand slam.

"Venus has had more than an excellent year and she is obviously very focussed on the Australian Open."

Williams and the number two seed, defending champion Justine Henin, will have a bye in the first round.

"Justine is a star in her own right," Smylie said of the Wimbledon finalist.