This year's entry list includes new No. 1 and Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.
Last year she beat 2013 Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the Stuttgart final before claiming her Roland Garros triumph.
Like Sharapova, Australian Open champ Victoria Azarenka struggled with her serve, but she rallied past Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
"It's the best way to get under the skin and become more knowledgeable about the capital's architecture, " explains Victoria Thornton, founding director of Open House.
Among the past Grand Slam title winners hoping to join her in the third round with victories Thursday: defending French Open champion Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, Li Na and Petra Kvitova.
But by winning the Australian Open on Saturday, Victoria Azarenka won a big one for herself, and for tennis traditionalists who prefer their No. 1 players with a Grand Slam title on their CVs.
Defending champion and second seed Maria Sharapova has the tougher test, with Australian Open winner and third seed Victoria Azarenka in her half of the draw.
The previous year Williams also picked up the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship and the Regal Welsh Open on his home turf to place him at the top of the snooker tree.
The Hilton Sydney's renovation last year created the standing-room-only Zeta Bar, a mammoth, seductively lit den with an open-air terrace facing the Queen Victoria Building.
Sharapova was also forced to pull out of last year's Brisbane tournament, but went on to reach the final of the Australian Open, where she was beaten by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
CNN: Injured Sharapova pulls out of season opening tournament
She extended her record to 15-3 this season, with her only defeats coming against world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the last eight at the Australian Open and the semifinals in Sydney and Doha.
Ivanovic, who occupied top spot after winning the French Open in 2008 but is now ranked 16th, recorded a 6-3 6-2 against the Danish fourth seed -- who lost her No. 1 ranking following Victoria Azarenka's triumph at January's Australian Open.
Fourth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also profited from an injury as U.S. Open quarterfinalist Kateryna Bondarenko of the Ukraine conceded while 4-1 down in the first set.
Caterpillar, for example, one of the likely beneficiaries of expanded exports, recently announced plans to open a new assembly plant not in its Midwestern base but in Victoria, outside Houston.
FORBES: Where's Next: November May Determine Regional Winners
MELBOURNE, Australia On Saturday, 30 year-old Li Na will have the opportunity to rewrite history as the oldest Australian Open champion if she can defeat world No. 1 and defending champion Victoria Azarenka.
Her last two trips to the Australian Open have ended in quarterfinal losses to the eventual champion Kim Clijsters in 2011 and Victoria Azarenka last year.
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