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By Matthew Hursh
Photo Credit: Tony Chang/ Chang Photography


(May 20, 2011) Injuries to Serena and Venus Williams have opened up the women’s side of the French Open draw. But without a clear favorite, there are plenty of questions yet to be answered by the 128 women who hope to kiss the court in triumph at the end of the tournament. 

For the many questions we have as we enter the French Open, they will all be answered in a few short weeks. 


They start with Francesca Schiavone, the Italian who shocked the world by beating Samantha Stosur in straight sets in the finals of Roland Garros last year. Schiavone, who was the 17th seed during her title run, now holds the fifth seed.

She played her best tennis to rise to the moment and prevail last year, but there are many doubts about her because she has not reached the finals of a tournament in 2011. She is in the same half of the draw as World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.


While she is seeded first, it would be difficult to call Wozniacki the favorite at the French. She has struggled in majors in her young career, reaching a major final only once at the 2009 US Open.

Yet her performance in last year’s championships was her best, as she reached the quarterfinals before falling to Schiavone. But she recently posted a victory over the Italian in three sets in the Brussels Open semifinals. That win will certainly boost her confidence heading into the French Open.


While she is an active and successful player on tour, many have asked if Woz can break through and win a major playing her defensive style of tennis. If she can, the clay at Roland Garros would be the perfect place to do it.

Second-seeded Kim Clijsters also enters the French with plenty of looming questions about her health after she injured her foot dancing at a wedding. After winning the past two Grand Slams, Kim will attempt to make it three in a row with her foot and ankle heavily taped. 

However, she hasn’t played any warm-up tournaments on clay and she will have to work herself into form as the tournament progresses.


Many of the other contenders at Roland Garros, including Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Li Na, and Stosur, will hope to break through and win their first major title. However, a number of savvy veterans will be looking to reclaim their spots on top of women’s tennis with a win at Roland Garros.

Meanwhile, three women who previously held the No. 1 rank, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic, are hoping that the 2011 French Open will be their opportunity to reclaim the triumph of their past success.

Sharapova has won every major but the French in her career, but she has turned in strong results heading into Roland Garros, recording wins over Azarenka, Wozniacki, and Stosur en route to the title at the Italian Open. She is also on Clijsters’ side of the draw, and could benefit if Kim is not in top form. 


Jankovic has reached the semifinals at Roland Garros three times in her career, but has never been able to break through and reach the finals. However, the clay fits her defensive style of play and she has a winnable draw into the round of 16 if she is in top form.

Ivanovic defeated Dinara Safina in the finals of the 2008 French Open, and the wide-open draw of this year’s tournament will give her a chance to repeat her past success in 2011.  She is the 20th seed this year, but she is in a quarter containing Li and Azarenka. Yet she may not have to face a top contender until late in the tournament. 


With a myriad of injuries to the top women on tour, we should expect the unexpected at Roland Garros. That’s why I expect two players who have never won the French, Sharapova and Wozniacki, to meet in the finals. 

Ultimately, I expect Sharapova to prevail because of her shot making and experience in major finals. After once calling herself a “cow on ice” on clay, she seems to be more comfortable on the dirt. The 2011 French Open will be her chance to show her fans that she is a force to be reckoned with on the WTA Tour once again.


 

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