The women's game is more mixed up than it ever has been before, but Dinara Safina is determined to fill a hole that has been left open ever since Justine Henin left the game. 5 different women held the number 1 spot over all of last year, and 3 different players have held that spot already this year. Serena Williams won the last 2 slams, but many women are in Paris full of grit and will-power, and this is where the roller-coaster that is Roland Garros starts.
1st Quarter
Safina starts off this quarter after winning the last 2 tournaments she has played in, Madrid and Rome, both on clay. Safina clearly has the momentum, but countless youngsters have assumed the top spot and failed embarrasingly at the next slam (just think of 2 Serbian women...wink wink). Alisa Kleybanova, a young Russian, may carry a lot of weight, but her game, when it's on, can compete at the top level. Victoria Azarenka, who sits in the bottom half of this quarter is the top rising star on tour and has been picked by many as the next dominant force in tennis. Not so fast. Azarenka proved herself at Indian Wells, but she is nowhere near being able to handle Grand Slam pressure. Carla Surez Navarro and Jie Zheng are other dangerous threats as well. And let's not forget Ana Ivanovic, who won this title last year. The Serb was not able to cope with being number 1 after she took over the spot, but with a new coach in Craig Kardon, the bombshell is fit to make another run. A huge run.
Quartefinals: Ivanovic def. Safina
2nd Quarter
This quarter is full of talent, with Venus Williams, Vera Zvonereva, Amelie Mauresmo and Nadia Petrova, but look closer. Even closer, and you'll find Maria Sharapova. The Russian startlet played her 1st match in 10 months this past week, and won 2 matches before falling to Alyona Bondarenko. Call me crazy, but with a good week of rest, Sharapova could force some upsets. Williams fell in the 3rd round last year to Flavia Pennetta, and has never won the title in Paris. Zvonereva has been absent from the tour lately with an injury, but has been resting up and could make a decent run. Mauresmo seems to always have problems in front of her home crowd, but those difficulties will end in 2009, and the Frenchwoman will make huge strides. Petrova has been solid this year, but could face Sharapova, who has dropped to number 65 in the rankings, in the 2nd round. If you're looking for a dark horse, you might not want to pass up on Bondarenko, who could face Mauresmo in the 3rd round.
Quarterfinals: Mauresmo def. Zvonareva
3rd Quarter
The top 2 women in the 3rd quarter, Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic, have been on the same path recently. Good, not great. Quarterfinals, not Victories. These women, seeded at 4 and 5 respectively, have been solid this season but have not garnered the success expected of them. Last year, Jankovic reached the semifinals here, and played a thrilling 3 setter with Ivanovic. In 2004, Dementieva finished runner up to Anastasia Myskina, who is long gone. Caroline Wozniacki, a great young talent, is seeded 10th and is in this quarter. She has the right game for clay, but never seems to have the maturity to win the big matches. Francesca Schiavone, a natural clay-courter, is a dangerous threat to the top seeds, having knocked Serena out in the 3rd round in 2008. Alize Cornet will have the crowd behind her and her game is coming together nicely at just the right time, so look for her to cause some upsets. Many may disagree with me, but I feel like Jankovic is in position to make some noise in Paris.
Quarterfinals: Jankovic def. Schiavone
4th Quarter
Serena Williams, the leading lady in the last quarter, was seeded 2nd in the U.S. Open and Australian Open. Losing the number 1 ranking could have been the best thing that's ever happened to Williams, because the American is seeded none other than 2nd this year. She leads this stellar quarter along with Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won in Stuttgart by defeating Safina. The Russian has a big game, so don't be surprised when she goes way farther than you expected. Flavia Pennetta reached the semifinals in Madrid, and is a fabulous clay court player. She beat the older Williams last year in Paris, and could meet the younger sister in the round of 16. Pennetta is playing some of the best tennis of her life, while Williams has lost 4 consecutive matches and has a bum knee. Upset alert? Patty Schnyder has played very well this month, and could meet 12th seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in a blockbuster 3rd round meeting. Aleksandra Wozniack and Sybille Bammer are solid players as well and could win a few matches.
Quarterfinals: Kuznetsova def. Pennetta
Semifinals
Ivanovic def. Mauresmo
Kuznetsova def. Jankovic
Finals
Ivanovic def. Kuznetsova
The picks may not be popular, but Ivanovic's game always seems to come full circle right around the end of May, and although her young career has been on a downward spiral, she knows just how to pump herself up on la terre battue.
1st Quarter
Safina starts off this quarter after winning the last 2 tournaments she has played in, Madrid and Rome, both on clay. Safina clearly has the momentum, but countless youngsters have assumed the top spot and failed embarrasingly at the next slam (just think of 2 Serbian women...wink wink). Alisa Kleybanova, a young Russian, may carry a lot of weight, but her game, when it's on, can compete at the top level. Victoria Azarenka, who sits in the bottom half of this quarter is the top rising star on tour and has been picked by many as the next dominant force in tennis. Not so fast. Azarenka proved herself at Indian Wells, but she is nowhere near being able to handle Grand Slam pressure. Carla Surez Navarro and Jie Zheng are other dangerous threats as well. And let's not forget Ana Ivanovic, who won this title last year. The Serb was not able to cope with being number 1 after she took over the spot, but with a new coach in Craig Kardon, the bombshell is fit to make another run. A huge run.
Quartefinals: Ivanovic def. Safina
2nd Quarter
This quarter is full of talent, with Venus Williams, Vera Zvonereva, Amelie Mauresmo and Nadia Petrova, but look closer. Even closer, and you'll find Maria Sharapova. The Russian startlet played her 1st match in 10 months this past week, and won 2 matches before falling to Alyona Bondarenko. Call me crazy, but with a good week of rest, Sharapova could force some upsets. Williams fell in the 3rd round last year to Flavia Pennetta, and has never won the title in Paris. Zvonereva has been absent from the tour lately with an injury, but has been resting up and could make a decent run. Mauresmo seems to always have problems in front of her home crowd, but those difficulties will end in 2009, and the Frenchwoman will make huge strides. Petrova has been solid this year, but could face Sharapova, who has dropped to number 65 in the rankings, in the 2nd round. If you're looking for a dark horse, you might not want to pass up on Bondarenko, who could face Mauresmo in the 3rd round.
Quarterfinals: Mauresmo def. Zvonareva
3rd Quarter
The top 2 women in the 3rd quarter, Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic, have been on the same path recently. Good, not great. Quarterfinals, not Victories. These women, seeded at 4 and 5 respectively, have been solid this season but have not garnered the success expected of them. Last year, Jankovic reached the semifinals here, and played a thrilling 3 setter with Ivanovic. In 2004, Dementieva finished runner up to Anastasia Myskina, who is long gone. Caroline Wozniacki, a great young talent, is seeded 10th and is in this quarter. She has the right game for clay, but never seems to have the maturity to win the big matches. Francesca Schiavone, a natural clay-courter, is a dangerous threat to the top seeds, having knocked Serena out in the 3rd round in 2008. Alize Cornet will have the crowd behind her and her game is coming together nicely at just the right time, so look for her to cause some upsets. Many may disagree with me, but I feel like Jankovic is in position to make some noise in Paris.
Quarterfinals: Jankovic def. Schiavone
4th Quarter
Serena Williams, the leading lady in the last quarter, was seeded 2nd in the U.S. Open and Australian Open. Losing the number 1 ranking could have been the best thing that's ever happened to Williams, because the American is seeded none other than 2nd this year. She leads this stellar quarter along with Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won in Stuttgart by defeating Safina. The Russian has a big game, so don't be surprised when she goes way farther than you expected. Flavia Pennetta reached the semifinals in Madrid, and is a fabulous clay court player. She beat the older Williams last year in Paris, and could meet the younger sister in the round of 16. Pennetta is playing some of the best tennis of her life, while Williams has lost 4 consecutive matches and has a bum knee. Upset alert? Patty Schnyder has played very well this month, and could meet 12th seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in a blockbuster 3rd round meeting. Aleksandra Wozniack and Sybille Bammer are solid players as well and could win a few matches.
Quarterfinals: Kuznetsova def. Pennetta
Semifinals
Ivanovic def. Mauresmo
Kuznetsova def. Jankovic
Finals
Ivanovic def. Kuznetsova
The picks may not be popular, but Ivanovic's game always seems to come full circle right around the end of May, and although her young career has been on a downward spiral, she knows just how to pump herself up on la terre battue.
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