The French Open is the second major Grand Slam of the year. For Tennis faithful’s, it is also called Roland-Garros. It is the premier clay court tennis championship event in the world and the only Grand Slam event held on clay.
The 2018 championship kicks off today in Paris. The winner of the singles Female event receives 2000 points as well as prize money of €2,200,000 in addition to being handed La Coupe Suzanne Lenglen.
Here are some of our contenders:
SIMONA HALEP
Best Result at French Open – Runners up (2014 & 2017)
Can she go one step better in 2018? Halep has suffered her fair share of heartbreak at Grand Slams. Losing the 2017 French Open to Jelena Ostapenko and 2018 Australian Open to Caroline Wozniacki. Clay is Halep’s best surface and the French Open is her best chance to win a major. Halep will need to produce her best tennis from start to finish if she is to emerge winner at the end of the two weeks championship in Paris.
Simona kicks off her 2018 French Open campaign with a first round match against Alison Riske.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
Best Result at French Open – Quarter-final
Caroline’s form has dipped after an impeccable January. She has won just two matches at Indian Wells and Miami. The Australian Open winner retired during the quarter-finals of Istanbul open and lost out in Madrid in the Round of 16. Wozniacki doesn’t have the greatest record at Roland-Garros, reaching just two quarter-finals in 10 appearances. It is going to take something special from Caroline to win in Paris.
Wozniacki will face Collins in the first round of the 2018 French Open.
GARBINE MUGURUZA
Best Result at French Open – Champion (2016)
Roland-Garros was the breakthrough ground for Muguruza’s first Grand Slam title. The Spaniard is easily one of the most dangerous players on tour, and if she’s playing her best in Paris, Muguruza is arguably the player to beat. She hasn’t had a great start to the clay season, retiring in her first match in Stuttgart, she did not go beyond the Round of 16 in Madrid and crashed out in the third round in Rome. Muguruza generally does raise her level significantly for Roland-Garros, but on this occasion, she has left herself a tougher task than usual.
Gabby’s first round opponent is Svetlana Kuznetsova
JELENA OSTAPENKO
Best Result at French Open – Champion (2017)
In one of the biggest shocks in Grand Slam history, Ostapenko stunned Simona Halep in the 2017 French Open final to win her first Grand Slam title. The Latvian became the first unseeded player to claim the Roland Garros crown since 1933, and Ostapenko has continued to establish herself as a top 10 player. Ostapenko made the quarter-finals in Stuttgart quarter-finals but couldn’t build on that as she crashed out in the opening round in Madrid. She returned better in Rome but fell short in the quarter finals. She would need to improve on her serve game if she aims to defend her Roland-Garros title.
Jelena will face Kateryna Kozlova in her first match in this year’s French Open.
ELINA SVITOLINA
Best Result at French Open – Quarter-final
Elina Svitolina defended her Italia Open title as she dispatched world number 1 Simona Halep in straight sets in Rome last week. The Ukrainian must remained grounded considering her unbelievable collapse in the quarter finals of the 2017 French Open against Halep. She showed mentally strength to finish the year on a career high but would aware that the big hitters would be on show at Roland-Garros. Svitolina is showing improvement in her game as she progresses. Can this be the two-time quarterfinalist’s year at Roland Garros?
Tomljanović is Elina’s first hurdle at Roland Garros
MARIA SHARAPOVA
Best Result at French Open – Champion (2012 & 2014)
Sharapova has struggled to consistently hit the sort of form that saw her win two French Opens and five major titles before her suspension. A series of injury problems has disrupted her return to the game. Maria still has it in her, she can beat the best players in the world on her day, but winning seven matches on clay in such a competitive field is a big ask for the Russian at the moment. Her form on clay this season didn’t start well in Stuttgart but she picked up recording a quarterfinal finish in Madrid and a semifinal finish in Rome. Sharapova is expected to get to the latter stages at Roland-Garros.
In the first round, Maria Sharapova squares off against Richèl Hogenkamp.
SERENA WILLIAMS
Best Result at French Open – Champion (2002, 2003 & 2015)
Serena has only played two competitive tournaments since winning the Australian Open title in 2017, but that hasn’t stopped her from being one of the favorites for the 2018 French Open. The former world number one is still aiming to break the record for the most Grand Slam titles won before retiring, Serena played her first singles match in 14 months at Indian Wells earlier in 2018, losing to Sister Venus and was knocked out in the first round of Miami. It’s clear Serena still has a way to go if she is to claim the prize she last won in 2015.
Serena will face Kristyna Pliskova in the first round of 2018 French Open competition.
The two-week long competition starts today. Predict and win Big by visiting Babaijebu.ng