NOTE: This is my own version of draw analysis on 2010 French Open. In this self-version of draw analysis, I will pick who I think will be 2010 French Open Women's Champion.
The European clay court season produced different champions and established many contenders that can do damage in the 2010 French Open draw, thus this year's second Grand Slam is still wide open from the time Justine Henin retire from the sport two years ago. Since 2008, French Open has won by former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic and defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, defeated former world No.1 Dinara Safina on both occasions.
With recent win of Aravane Rezai over Venus Williams, do French community has seen the homegrown champion that will hoist the trophy and bring victory to the country, since 1983? Or the longing for own champion is not yet over?
The women's tennis is experiencing healthy competitions again. With the history to be made, the resurgence of the former champions, the revival of old rivalries, the lingering and stunning upsets, the breakthroughs, and the great matches to be played, who will be crowned as 2010 French Open Women's Champion?
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| Svetlana Kuznetsova 2009 French Open Women's Champion |
The Quarters - Part 1
This quarter part of the draw is full package as it where three Grand Slam champions reside. Serena Williams, world No.1 and the top seed plays her first match against Stefanie Voegele. The first seeded player she will possibly face is Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, seeded No.29 in the third round, that is, if she win over Frenchwoman Alize Cornet whose crowd will definitely beside her. Cornet is slowly finding form in her previous matches and with the crowd behind her, would that be enough to book a meeting with Williams?
Another seeded player and Frenchwoman could possibly face Williams in the round of 16, this time it's Marion Bartoli. If this match pushed through, we will be witnessing a power versus power match. Williams has an edge with that ability but what's Bartoli extra gear would be the Parisian crowd. Sleeping dangerously for Bartoli to meet Williams is Chinese Shuai Peng, but the biggest threat to that matchup will be Shahar Peer, that is, if she beat clay court and doubles specialist qualifier, Nuria Llagostera Vives.
The bottom half of this quarter seems to be full of intriguing matches. First up, the comeback of Maria Sharapova after a period of layoff due to injury. As she reached final at Strasbourg in her sole warm-up event heading to second Slam of the year, she shows form and establish that she can be considered as a contender. On her meeting with possibly the first seeded player, the rivalry will be renewed if she take on No.22 seed Henin in the third round, Henin leads 6-3 in their series. But before that anticipated match, she could possibly face Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in the second round.
But how about the in-form and serious contender No.7 seed Samantha Stosur? Will she have a shot at the title, given the roadblocks ahead of her? In her opening match, she will take on Romanian rising star qualifier Simona Halep. Halep shows her toughness in her previous matches, most notably reaching finals at Fes and she can really do damage in this part of the draw. If Stosur gets through, a potential meeting with another Romanian Ioana Raluca Olaru or Chinese No.25 seed Jie Zheng for a place in the round of 16, who both opens their match with the Russians Anastasia Pivovarova and Ekaterina Bychkova, respectively.
Williams' potential meeting with either Peer (Williams leads 4-0) or Bartoli (Williams lead 2-0) in the round of 16, both has yet to post wins over Williams, may be a bit tricky than Stosur's potential clash with two former Grand Slam champions, Sharapova and Henin. This is clay and this is a Grand Slam tournament, the one who advanced are those who show toughness. But what's sure is that, we will have a treat as two former Grand Slam champions will possibly meet in the round of eight. Therefore, a former Grand Slam champion will advanced to semifinals. Did she plays well on clay? Will Williams be able to clinch her record-breaking 13th title at Roland Garros and on-the-line to achieve career Slam since Steffi Graf?
Semifinalist: Henin
Match to look for: Henin vs. Sharapova. If these two former champions meet, that of course a real treat. This is the toughest test for Sharapova as she plays on Henin's garden. We'll be expecting drama and a blockbuster match in this round, but the only thing sure is, the real champion will advance.
Match to look for: Henin vs. Sharapova. If these two former champions meet, that of course a real treat. This is the toughest test for Sharapova as she plays on Henin's garden. We'll be expecting drama and a blockbuster match in this round, but the only thing sure is, the real champion will advance.
The Quarters - Part 2
Former world No.1 and fourth seed Jelena Jankovic's quarter is as relatively tough as S.Williams, though the only Grand Slam champion residing in this part of the draw is fellow Serb Ivanovic. Jankovic's path to round of 16 are blocked by a consecutive dark horses, can she avoid an early upset? To start with, Jankovic plays her opening match against former top 10 and a doubles specialist,Alicia Molik (Molik leads 4-2 over Jankovic), a potential matchup against qualified Kaia Kanepi (Kanepi leads 1-0 over Jankovic) in the second round, No.27 seed Alona Bondarenko (Bondarenko scored her sole win over Jankovic in 10 matches) in the third round, and No.16 seed Yanina Wickmayer in the fourth round. Wickmayer should gets past Daniela Hantuchova in their potential third round clash. Hantuchova's path to third round are blocked by a tricky Tamarine Tanasugarn in the first round, as well as, a potential encounter against a clay court specialist Carla Suarez Navarro in the second round.
Meanwhile, No.9 seed Safina opens her match against the veteran Kimiko Date Krumm. This match is tricky for Safina considering her form and the performance she shows in the warm-up events. As the two-time French Open finalist come into this tournament with poor clay season, that might be spoiled by her fellow Russian and No.21 seed Vera Zvonareva when they potentially meet in the third round. If Safina gets past Zvonareva, most probably than not, another fellow Russian is looming to potentially book a meeting with her in the round of 16, the No.28 seed hard-hitter Alisa Kleybanova. But Kleybanova must finished her businesses with a second round encounter against unseeded former world No.1 Ivanovic and a third round encounter against No.8 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who opens her match against British Elena Baltacha.
A pair of upsets? That is, close to possible. An experience at grandest stage matters more often than not. A potential meeting of the Serbian stars for a place in the semifinals is much anticipated, the repeat of 2008 French Open where Ivanovic claim her only Grand Slam title. Considering Ivanovic on a comeback trail, will she be able to avenge her loss to Jankovic at Madrid? Will Safina revive the form the brought her to French Open finals last year? Does Jankovic ready to claim her first Grand Slam title?
Semifinalist: Jankovic
Match to watch: Ivanovic taking on Taipei teenager Kai-Chen Chang. This may be a good test for Ivanovic as the teenager from Taipei, as she reached quarterfinals at Kuala Lumpur upsetting Zheng en route. However, Ivanovic must show the performance that brought her to semifinals at Rome.
Match to watch: Ivanovic taking on Taipei teenager Kai-Chen Chang. This may be a good test for Ivanovic as the teenager from Taipei, as she reached quarterfinals at Kuala Lumpur upsetting Zheng en route. However, Ivanovic must show the performance that brought her to semifinals at Rome.
The Quarters - Part 3
In this quarter, defending champion and No.6 seed Kuznetsova begins title defense with feisty Romanian Sorana Cirstea. She could meet in the second round either fellow Russian Elena Vesnina or German Andrea Petkovic. In the third round, a clash with fellow Russian and No.30 seed Maria Kirilenko is more likely anticipated. Kirilenko, who upset Sharapova in opening round at this year's Australian Open can stopped Kuznetsova going deep. If Kuznetsova advanced, she could meet No.17 seed Francesa Schiavone or the gutsy No.11 seed Li Na for a place in the round of 16. But before Li have a possible clash with Schiavone in the third round, she must get past of these two Frenchwoman blocking her way, the 17-year old and defending Junior French Open champion Kristina Mladenovic in the first round and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro in the second round.
No.3 seed Caroline Wozniacki plays her opening match against Russian Alla Kudryavtseva. She could meet Strasbourg finalist Kristina Barrois in the second round and Warsaw finalist and No.31 seed Alexandra Dulgheru in the third round. In the fourth round, she could have a possible encounter with either No.24 seed Lucie Safarova, who retired in her match against Rezai at Madrid Open and No.14 seed Flavia Pennetta. Wozniacki's quarter is more likely for her to advanced beyond third round and for her to find herself in the semifinals. The only thing that might stopped Wozniacki to reach the final four would be her ankle, that bothers her throughout the European clay court season.
Considering the form of the top players in the part of the draw, it is hard to pick one of the top players to advanced to semifinals. It is also considered that this part of the draw is wide open, that is, anyone can reach semifinals and that one is the one who possess consistent and aggresive play throughout the first week will most likely advanced. The top candidates to book a spot in the semifinals are Kirilenko, Li, Pennetta, and Safarova. Of these four, one has an edge over the other.
Semifinalist: Li
Match to watch: Kuznetsova's title defense over Cirstea will be an intriguing match to look for. This will be Kuznetsova's real test given her current form as well as Cirstea's. Though Kuznetsova's unpredictable and inconsistent play can be a sort of dangerous. Will she able to defend her title?
Player to watch: Mladenovic, the homegrown champion in the making and future of French tennis, opens her match against Li.
Match to watch: Kuznetsova's title defense over Cirstea will be an intriguing match to look for. This will be Kuznetsova's real test given her current form as well as Cirstea's. Though Kuznetsova's unpredictable and inconsistent play can be a sort of dangerous. Will she able to defend her title?
Player to watch: Mladenovic, the homegrown champion in the making and future of French tennis, opens her match against Li.
The Quarters - Part 4
The fourth quarter part of the draw is the part where dark horses, floaters, and sleepers who can do damage and can upset top players reside. Like No.2 seed Williams path to semifinals, she plays her opening match against unseeded left-hander and former top ten Patty Schnyder. In the second round, she could meet either Arantxa Parra Satonja or teenage Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara, whose playing her first French Open main draw upsetting No.19 seed Monica Niculescu in the qualifying match, 10-8 in the deciding set. If Williams advanced, a possible encounter with petite and 2009 French Open semifinalist Dominika Cibulkova (Cibulkova leads 1-0 over Williams), where she almost bagelled Sharapova in their quarterfinal match. In the fourth round, another test will be handed to Williams as she could face again her conqueror at Madrid Open, Rezai. But lucky for Williams, as Rezai will be taking a series of tough test before they meet in the round of 16 where a potential encounter with total slumping Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the second round, then a possible clash with either Agnes Szavay or No.19 seed Nadia Petrova in the third round. Will Williams gets revenge of her loss at Madrid? Williams chances to lift the trophy in the recent Premier level tour where she was thrashed by Jankovic at Rome and then stunned by Rezai at Madrid is something to strategize her game a lot. Though Williams can play on clay, but clay doesn't fit on her game. Given this conditions and facing Rezai in the round of 16 is much anticipated match. Can she get some support from the crowd, now that French people is longing for a homegrown champion?
If Williams had a series of tough test to go through, that will be experience too by No.5 seed Elena Dementieva. Due to poor clay season, Dementieva might not be as dominant like the year where she reached and lost her final match in this event. Like Williams, her path to semifinals is really tough. Having a potential second round match against American Melanie Oudin. Before she reached round of 16, her roadblocks would be clay court specialist Anabel Medina Garrigues, Aleksandra Wozniak, and Fes champion Iveta Benesova.
Victoria Azarenka first test coming from her opening match against dark horse Gisela Dulko, who could upset anyone at any given day. If she advanced, she could possibly meet Italian Open champion and No.20 seed Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in the third round. Azarenka does not produce outstanding performance the entire European clay court season, thus having a possible clash with clay court specialist Martinez Sanchez is tough test for her to pass. Given Martinez Sanchez is blocked by unseeded and Estoril champion Anastasija Sevastova, that can do not much damage in the draw as the Spaniard will most likely to advance to book a possible meeting with Dementieva.
A chance for Williams to be in the semifinals will depend on her. But to possibly meet Martinez Sanchez in other side of the net, is an intriguing match to watch. Will be able to see Williams showing no meltdown and ready to run on Martinez Sanchez creativity on clay?
Semifinalist: Martinez Sanchez
Match to watch: Williams vs. Schnyder is an intriguing match to look for. With their ages in their 30s, we will see another level of the match where dominated by veterans.
Player to watch: Rezai, as how she sustain her confidence that gave her biggest title so far at Madrid.
Match to watch: Williams vs. Schnyder is an intriguing match to look for. With their ages in their 30s, we will see another level of the match where dominated by veterans.
Player to watch: Rezai, as how she sustain her confidence that gave her biggest title so far at Madrid.
The Semifinals
Henin vs. Jankovic: This is the 11th meeting of of Henin and Jankovic, their sixth meeting on clay, their third meeting on Grand Slam semifinals, their second at French Open and the other was at US Open. Jankovic has yet to score a win over Henin, she pushed the Belgian into three sets at Stuttgart. Though Henin has been upset in the succeeding tournament, Jankovic continue her good run, reaching the finals at Rome and quarterfinals at Madrid. With Henin as the favorite to win her fifth French Open title, Jankovic chances may be a bit slim. She may be lucky enough to reach this far not facing the Williams sisters along the way. But that slim chances can make a big difference. Will Jankovic finally have the formula to solve Henin's equation and erased the status of being No.1 without a Grand Slam title? Or will she let this chance slip again in her hands? Jankovic in tight three sets.
Li vs. Martinez Sanchez: Surprise! Surprise! Maybe not. Li has been in the semifinals at this year's Australian Open, beating Venus in the quarters and pushing Serena into two very tight tiebreak sets in the semifinals before bowing out. At the relative age of women's tennis dominating the game, Li has been performing well and the success is still ahead of her for a couple of years more. But to clash with clay court specialist Martinez Sanchez for a spot in the finals of a Grand Slam event is something new to these two. Their sole meeting came from Dubai earlier this year with the Chinese emerge as victorious in three sets. While the clay court season, by far has been the biggest success for Martinez Sanchez, lifting the trophy at Italian Open, this will be grab-the-opportunity battle for these two talented player. Clay may defer Li's game and suits for Martinez Sanchez, previous matches show that Li can play well on clay. They both deserved to be in the finals but this is tough to choose from these two... Sigh! Li edging the Spaniard in three sets.
Finalist: Jankovic, Li
The Finals
How strange it is to choose the finalists other than former champions? With women's tennis is wide open and on clay anything can happen most especially at Roland Garros, therefore there is nothing strange if I bet on a new champion to emerge.
Jankovic and Li met seven times with Li leads one match against Jankovic 4-3. This will be their second meeting on clay since 2006 at Strasbourg when Jankovic defeated Li in straight sets. Both are aggressive and solid. If Li wins, she will be the first Chinese woman to lift the title at any Grand Slam event while Jankovic will erase the asterisk added to her name, the number one player without a Grand Slam title. The pressure is high as the grandest stage crowned the deserving champion. Jankovic in straight sets.
Champion: Jelena Jankovic
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