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Previewing the WTA French Open Favorites

May 22nd 2015

With the second major of the season only days away and the clay season reaching a climax, hopeful players have prepared themselves for the French Open. After weeks of fine-tuning on red clay, who are the competitors in the women’s draw best positioned to contend for the title at Roland Garros? Here is a glance at some to watch.

Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova

What was once deemed a secret to some is no longer as Sharapova’s best surface has become noted as clay. The defending champion has been dominant on the surface of late, boasting a 63-6 record since 2012. Not coincidentally, the Russian has won two out of the last three titles at Roland Garros. However, three of her six losses during that time span have come at the hands of her nemesis, Serena Williams. But Sharapova’s recent success has elevated her to world No. 2, placing her in the opposite section of the draw from the American at Roland Garros. The 28-year-old would only face Williams, who has not lost to her since 2004, in the final.

Sharapova did stumble to a pair of lower-ranked players during the 2015 clay season, but she enters Paris after a strong run at Rome. She fell to Angelique Kerber in Stuttgart and Svetlana Kuznetsova in Madrid before rebounding for the Rome title. During her title run in Italy, Sharapova dropped just one set and has certainly solidified herself as a strong contender in the coming fortnight.

Serena Williams

Far too often in the past, Williams has entered a Grand Slam event appearing to be less than in top form, only to elevate her play during the tournament. Once again, some will point out that the American is primed for early elimination in Paris. After all, Williams pulled out of the Premier Five event in Rome with an elbow injury just last week. However, if history has taught one lesson about Williams, it is to expect that she will compete at a high level during most major tournaments.

Despite having played just six matches on clay this season, Williams’ only true defeat was to Petra Kvitova in the Madrid semifinals. Her six matches on the surface are her fewest heading to Roland Garros since 2011. However, good health is more vital than logging court time for the 33-year-old. At this point in her career, Williams is driven most by success at the majors, and it would be foolish not to expect a fierce effort to bring home her third title at Roland Garros. A victory at the French Open would give her 20 major titles, bringing her one step closer to matching Steffi Graf’s 22. Williams has her sights set on Margaret Court’s 24 major championships as well.

Carla Suarez Navarro

At first glance, the mention of the diminutive Suarez Navarro as a contender at a major may appear to be a reach. However, few are playing as consistently and with as much confidence as the Spaniard in recent months. Since the Australian Open, Suarez Navarro has advanced to at least the quarterfinals in all eight tournaments entered.  While she has yet to win a title in 2015, she has appeared in three finals.

During the clay season, the 26-year-old proved that she could be a factor. Her performance in Rome last week solidified her place as a contender after consecutive victories over Eugenie Bouchard, Petra Kvitova, and Simona Halep before falling to Sharapova in the final. In the championship match, Suarez Navarro pushed the world No. 2, forcing her into a three-set comeback. Suarez Navarro appears to be poised for a breakthrough, having flirted with a number of recent championships. Having twice reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, she appears ready to take that success a couple steps further.

Petra Kvitova

Petra Kvitova

Coming into clay-court season, the two-time Wimbledon champion gave no indication that she could be a factor at Roland Garros. After earning her second major title in London last summer, Kvitova has yet to significantly build on that impressive result. She struggled early in 2015 when she decided to take a hiatus from the game due to burnout. But things would change for her in Madrid, where she appeared rested, in shape, and in top form.

While earning the title at the Premier Mandatory tournament, Kvitova was particularly impressive during her semifinal match, where she dismantled Serena Williams 6-2 6-3. The Czech would enter Rome with momentum and played well early, but she ran into a red-hot Suarez Navarro and exited in the quarterfinals.

Curiously, Kvitova has shown inconsistency in the past, with a number of big-time victories mixed with head-scratching defeats. But if the world No. 4 finds a level of play similar to that demonstrated recently in Madrid, she is capable of a deep run in Paris. Which version will appear as play begins next week?

Simona Halep

In 2014, the Romanian proved that she is capable of great success in the season’s second major, having advanced to the title match.  Although her clay season underwhelmed this year, she has earned three titles in 2015 and continues to improve overall.

Halep’s best results on clay this spring were semifinal appearances at Rome and Stuttgart. But a first-round loss to Alize Cornet in Madrid proved to highlight her recent disappointment on the surface. Nevertheless, Halep has proven to be a fighter and a competitor with a short memory. During the 2014 clay season, Halep shook off a first-round loss to Kuznetsova in Stuttgart, only to follow up with a run to the Madrid and French Open finals. The results propelled her into the world’s top four for the first time.

Certainly, the 23-year-old has exhibited the consistency and tennis IQ to duplicate her run from last year at Roland Garros. There, she lost a tough three-setter to Sharapova where only points separated her from her maiden major championship. It is almost certain that the taste left from last year’s French Open finals defeat lingers and serves as motivation for 2015.

In the last decade, the French Open has been a major where it is wise to expect the unexpected. Since 2005, there have been seven different women’s champions, giving hope to a number of players who will begin play next week. However, these five women will likely lead the charge at the Tournoi de Roland Garros.