Week #22-23 preview: Roland Garros

Roland Garros (FRA), Grand Slam, €7,077,680

This year's French Open, which takes place in Roland Garros, will be conditioned by the retirement of World's #1 and 4 times champion here Justine Henin two weeks ago. Henin was a real master on clay and her domination in Roland Garros included the titles in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. So this year's tournament is really open, with at least five players trying to take Henin's crown as World's #1 and Roland Garros champion. Australian Open's champion Maria Sharapova is the new leader in the WTA ranking, but clay is not her best surface and has suffered some problems in her shoulder lately. Last year's runner-up Ana Ivanovic is expected to become a Grand Slam champion and feels good on clay, but doesn't look at her best at the moment. Jelena Jankovic was considered the best player on clay after Henin, so has a good chance here to have finally a remarkable performance on a Grand Slam. Svetlana Kuznetsova also performs well on clay and was already a runner-up here in 2006, but still needs to improve her regularity and mental strengh. And finally Serena Williams who is nearly unbeatable when she's fit and focused, and this season it seems that she is. On the other hand, some of the best performers this season so far, such as Vera Zvonareva, Elena Dementieva, Dinara Safina, Agnieszka Radwanska, Victoria Azarenka or local talent Alize Cornet, will try to get into the final rounds.