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Preview: The Women Of Roland Garros

May 25th 2018

The draw has been made and come Sunday, the 2018 edition of Roland Garros will officially be underway.  Not surprisingly, people have already begun to dissect the women's draw as they attempt to predict what is likely to unfold in the coming couple of weeks.  How many of those predictions will pan out is unknown, but there are ample intriguing storylines to follow and questions to be asked as the opening day of Roland Garros draws near.

One question sure to be on many minds concerns, “How far can Serena Williams go in Paris?”  The American comes into Paris unseeded, so both she and the other big names in the title hunt caught a break when she ultimately avoided them in the early rounds.  But expectations must be low for the former Number 1.  She is coming into Roland Garros cold, having pulled out of both Madrid and Rome, and she has not looked anywhere near her best on the few occasions when she has played this season. 

Serena Williams

It is all that she has accomplished in her legendary career, however, that have pundits and fellow competitors alike not dismissing her chances.  If she can play her way into the tournament, then she is more than capable of flipping the switch and willing herself to an improbable victory.  The odds still favor her looking to use her time in Paris as a means to get in some play before heading to the grass but given that she is in a workable section of the draw, if she were able to escape the first week, perhaps a surprise would be in store for the second.

Naturally, given how little Williams has played in 2018, there are others who will be more favored to be the last woman standing, and it could be that Paris will see a new first-time champion.  Simona Halep has twice been a runner-up here including last season, and she knows her way around the dirt.  Karolina Pliskova, this year's winner in Stuttgart, is also a woman many agree has Grand Slam potential.  Unfortunately for Halep and Pliskova, they are in the tougher half of the draw, which leaves the door more than ajar for Petra Kvitova and Elina Svitolina.  Kvitova and Svitolina reigned supreme earlier this spring in Madrid and Rome respectively.  Both are also playing exceptionally better ball than virtually anyone else in their quarters.  Svitolina has played some of her best tennis on the clay, and Kvitova comes equipped with the experience of being a two-time major champion with her runs at Wimbledon.  If they can maintain their current levels of superior play, then it may well be one of them who emerges from this half of the draw to claim her first Roland Garros crown.

Petra Kvitova

Of course, Paris has provided its share of upsets and stunning victors through the years, which is why dark horses cannot be dismissed.  Young Estonian Anett Kontaveit has played some solid tennis in Madrid and Rome, garnering impressive victories over the likes of Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki in the process, to arrive with confidence for Roland Garros.  Up-and-comer Daria Kasatkina is also one to watch.  She played one of the best matches of this season thus far to upset Venus Williams at Indian Wells, and her movement and variety of spins could take her far on the dirt.  KiKi Bertens of the Netherlands is another big-hitter who could be poised to make a deep run.  She gave Kvitova all she could handle in the Madrid final and could do the same to anyone here.  And lastly, seventh seed Caroline Garcia has to be considered a threat.  She had a nice run in Paris last year and finished 2017 strong to make the WTA Finals.  With the home crowd in her back pocket, if she catches fire, the Frenchwoman might be ready to achieve something magical.

These are just some of the interesting players and stories to watch for.  There is no telling how it will all shake out, but there is sure to be plenty of excitement and intrigue as the climax of the clay season gets underway and marches towards a finish.