2017 WTA French Open Preview

2017 WTA FRENCH OPEN PREVIEW

5/27/2017

This Week In Tennis
Season 2, Vol 17b

Welcome to the WTA French Open preview edition of "This Week in Tennis." Below you will be given a rundown of the top eight seeds, players to watch, and pointed in the direction of intriguing first round matches at tennis' second Grand Slam.

Click here for the ATP French Open preview.

(1) Angelique Kerber

Best Result: QF - 2012

2017 Clay Results: R16 - Stuttgart, Madrid

The world number one has suffered through an indifferent start to her 2017 season, reaching at least the quarterfinals in only four events, with one final in Monterrey. Having lost in the first round in Paris last year, Kerber at least has a good chance to pad her lead atop the women's rankings.

(2) Karolína Plíšková

Best Result: 2R - 2014, 2015

2016 Clay Results: QF - Stuttgart, Rome

Prior to last year's U.S. Open, the second seed had never reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam. After making the final in New York, and the quarters in Australia, Pliskova will now look to improve upon two second round showings in Paris. Prior Slam results are no longer a predictive tool for the world #3.

(3) Simona Halep

Best Result: F - 2015

2017 Clay Results: W - Madrid, F - Rome, SF - Stuttgart

A finalist in 2015, Simona Halep had the most accomplished clay court season of any WTA player heading into this year's French Open. Unfortunately for the world #4, she enters the event carrying an ankle injury that may hinder her hopes of capturing a maiden Grand Slam title. She also has the misfortune of a potential quarterfinal meeting with Svitolina.

(4) Garbine Muguruza

Best Result: W - 2016

2017 Clay Results: SF - Rome, R16 - Stuttgart

Muguruza is defending champion, but few are picking her to win the title. She endured an extended slump after winning her first major in Paris last year. She showed signs of a resurgence by making the semifinals in Rome. Unfortunately, she injured her neck prior to the match and was forced to retire. For the optimists out there, her pre-Roland Garros 2016 season was underwhelming and she still walked away with the title.

(5) Elina Svitolina

Best Result: QF - 2015

2017 Clay Results: W - Rome,

One of the favourites in Paris, Svitolina is in the midst of a stellar 2017 campaign. She arrives at Roland Garros fresh off a big win in Rome, where she beat one of the hottest clay court players this season in the final (Halep). Roland Garros is also the site of her sole Slam quarterfinal showing to date.

(6) Dominika Cibulkova

Best Result: SF - 2009

2017 Clay Results: No results in the round of 16 or better

After a stellar 2016 campaign, capped by winning the WTA Finals in Singapore, Cibulkova has suffered through injury and disappointing results to date in 2017. She also faces a tough quarter with Arruabarrena in the first round and Venus, Mladenovic, and Muguruza blocking her path to the semis. Still, Roland Garros is where she made her first deep Slam run in 2009 (semifinalist).

(7) Jo Konta

Best Result: 1R - 2015, 2016

2017 Clay Results: R16 - Stuttgart, Rome

One of the best hard court players on the WTA Tour, Konta will do well to make the second week in Paris. She has never won a match at Roland Garros in her career, but has at least shown improved form on the red dirt leading up to this year's event.

(8) Svetlana Kuznetsova

Best Result: W - 2009

2017 Clay Results: SF - Madrid, R16 - Stuttgart, Rome

Eight years removed from her last Grand Slam title, Kuznetsova enters the 2017 French Open -- site of her second and last Slam triumph -- as one of the favourites. In a field missing Serena Williams, and considered to be one of the most wide open in recent memory, Kuznetsova has the pedigree and skill to hold the trophy at fortnight's end.

DRAWS ->

WOMEN'S SINGLES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kristina Mladenovic - Seeded #13; popular pick to go deep in a wide open field after breakout 2017. She was runner-up at both Stuttgart and Madrid, taking out Sharapova in her 2017 debut.

Petra Kvitova - The former world #2 is making a surprise, early return to the WTA in Paris. While not much is expected of Kvitova, having her back after a shocking knife attack in December will brighten the proceedings no matter her finish.

Venus Williams - On the cusp of turning 37, Venus comes off a quarterfinal in Rome and solid 2017. Her runner-up finish in Australia this year shows she's not quite done yet.

Francesca Schiavone - One last hurrah in Paris for the retiring 2010 champion; unfortunately, she drew defending champ Muguruza in the first round.

FIRST ROUND INTRIGUE

(1) Kerber vs Makarova
Kvitova vs Boserup
(4) Muguruza vs Schiavone
(10) V Williams vs Wang
Bouchard vs Ozaki
(12) Keys vs Barty
Lepchenko vs Petkovic
Cirstea vs Peng
(20) Strycova vs Riske

TOURNAMENT NOTES

There are only three former champions in the draw: Muguruza, Kuznetsova, and Schiavone.
Serena Williams, defending finalist from 2016, will miss her first Grand Slam in six years (2011 French Open) as she is expecting her first child.
Schiavone (#17 in 2010) is the lowest ranked woman in the Open Era to win Roland Garros. She is also playing in her final Roland Garros after announcing she will retire at the end of 2017.
After one of the more impressive clay court seasons leading up to the French Open, Laura Siegemund withdraws after suffering a serious knee injury.

ON THE WEB

Who's the Greatest Clay-Courter of Them All -- Chris Evert or Rafa Nadal?
Women's Preview: French Open Draw is as Wide Open as its Ever Been
Kristina Mladenovic Offers Hope to Keep the French Open Trophy at Home
Amanda Anisimova, 15, is Ready for her Grand Slam Debut
A New Look at the Top of Women's Tennis: it's Wide Open
Interview with Kuznetsova's coach Carlos Martinez ahead of Roland Garros
How Johanna Konta has recovered from tragedy to turn herself into a genuine French Open contender
Unraveling the Actual Costs of Pro Tennis
Kvitova readies herself for emotional return to tennis after horrific knife attack left her fearing for career
Maria Sharapova gets wild-card entry in Rogers Cup

PODCASTS

The Body Serve - Are You There, Margaret? It’s Me, God: Roland Garros Preview
The Main Draw - Novak Attack
No Challenges Remaining - Draw Me Like One of Your French Opens, 2017
Beyond The Baseline - Previewing the 2017 French Open with Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario
Realz Tenis Fanz - The Smooth Criminals French Open Live Draw Show 2017
The Tennis Podcast - Roland Garros Preview; Predictions, Excitement & Intrigue Abound
WTA Insider - 2017 Roland Garros Preview
Tennis With An Accent - Roland Garros Preview With Rene Denfeld
Thirty Love - Ravi Ubha breaks down the French Open draw
Tennis Connected - Previewing the 2017 French Open

1 Comment

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11/6/2018 04:55:42 pm

Every time the season is about to start, a lot of bloggers have been making an assessment to the athletes. Absolutely, WTA French Open is one of the most talked-about events in the word of sports. I am not the biggest fan of tennis open, but I know few names in this field. Karolína Plíšková and Simona Halep are great players that we need to look out too. They are already great, but I am still looking forward for more greatness from the two!