Each day, we will offer previews of key WTA and ATP matches at the 2014 French Open. Women's previews will appear in separate articles from men's previews. Sunday action features both of the women who have defined American tennis this century.

Serena Williams vs. Alizé Lim

The third match of the day on Court Philippe Chatrier features world No. 1 Serena Williams against native Frenchwoman Alizé Lim.  They do not get much more David versus Goliath than this.

To say that this match is going to be an uphill battle for Lim might be the understatement of the year.  Williams is one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport.  In contrast, Lim, as evidenced by her current ranking of No. 138, has struggled to qualify for main draws at the WTA level.  Additionally, the Frenchwoman’s favorite shot is the drop shot, which could be difficult for her to pull off successfully with the amount of power Williams will be bringing to the table.  Lim cannot even take comfort in the surface, for she prefers hard courts.

All is not completely lost for the home favorite, however.  She will have the crowd in her back pocket, cheering her to raise the level of her game.  She will also be aware that Williams, despite her title run in Rome, has not had the opportunity to get in as much match time as she might have hoped.  Hampered by injury, the American lost her opener in Charleston and was forced to withdraw from her quarterfinal match in Madrid.  Furthermore, Lim is unlikely to be overawed by Williams.  The two have become good friends since Williams started training in Paris, which means Williams’ intimidating reputation is less likely to earn her a few free games.

Even allowing for these scant positives in Lim’s favor, this match has the makings of a rout for the defending champion.  Serena Williams should make her opener a statement match and send a warning to the rest of the field that she is ready to defend her title.  If she allows things to get complicated, it not only gives the other title contenders a little more hope but could prove troublesome at the first hurdle.  Everyone, especially Williams, remembers what Virginie Razzano did against her at this same stage on this same court two years ago.  In this case, it seems highly unlikely that the unthinkable could happen once again, but who is to say that lightning cannot strike twice? 

Belinda Bencic vs. Venus Williams

The second match of the day on Court Suzanne Lenglen is a battle of the generations.  At 17, Bencic is roughly half the age of Williams and will be keen to cause an early upset as Roland Garros gets rolling.

The Swiss teenager has a compelling game, which is not surprising because much of what she has learned came from Melanie Molitor, the mother and former coach of Martina Hingis.  She has also enjoyed steady progress to reach her current career-high ranking of No. 81.  Earlier this year, she pushed Li Na to a second-set tiebreak during their Australian Open encounter, and she worked her way through the qualifying at Charleston before reaching the semifinals.  She has had enough match experience that she is unlikely to be intimidated by Williams and would see a victory over her more accomplished opponent as a natural stepping stone in her burgeoning career.

Whether or not this match becomes a stepping stone for Bencic could depend a lot on which Venus Williams shows up on Sunday.  Between injuries, ailments, and a general lack of match play, Williams has been hit-or-miss these last few years.  2014 has been no exception to this trend.  She reached the final in Auckland and won the title in Dubai, but she has been unremarkable at best in more prestigious events.  A case in point was her second-round loss to Carla Suarez Navarro in Rome.  Additionally, Paris has not been particularly kind to her in recent years.  Venus lost her opener in 2013 and only fared one round better in 2012. 

But Venus will not be thinking of past performances at Roland Garros.  Instead, she can draw confidence from the lone meeting between Williams and Bencic, in which Williams won in two routine sets.  Williams is also the winner of multiple Grand Slam singles and doubles titles, and one of the perks of being a major champion is that no matter how much that once-great aura may fade, it is still there.  In the big moments, that reputation, those memories, and that experience can make the difference. 

At the end of the day, this clash boils down to who handles the situation best.  At such a young age, it could be Bencic who shows no fear as Williams dwindles under the pressure of knowing her window as a professional is quickly closing.  On the other hand, it might just be Williams who turns back the clock and uses her powerful shot-making to teach the young gun a lesson.  Either way, if both women bring their A-games, this has the potential to be one of the more entertaining matches of Round 1.