French Open 2011 Photos

French Open title contenders (women)

May 20, 2011 21:10

Here is a list of leading contenders for the French Open women's title when the second Grand Slam tournament of the season gets underway at Roland Garros, in Paris on Sunday.

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Here is a list of leading contenders for the French Open women's title when the second Grand Slam tournament of the season gets underway at Roland Garros, in Paris on Sunday.
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The young Dane has consolidated her world number one ranking this year with tournament wins at Dubai, Indian Wells and Charleston but flopped again in the Grand Slams with a semi-final loss to Li Na in Australia. Understands that her game is too one-dimensional for many based as it is on long rallies and defence, but to date appears to be unable to add a new dimension.

Turning a Pro in 2005, she has won 15 titles in her career so far along with $9,567,313 prize money.

Her best performance in Roland Garros was in 2010 when she advanced to the quarter-final. She is yet to win a Grand Slam.
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This Belgium queen went on to become the World No 2 returning to the court after a sabbatical. She looked likely to miss Roland Garros after damaging ankle ligaments at a cousin's wedding in April, but has decided to play despite not being 100 percent fit. She has won the last two Grand Slam titles in New York and Melbourne and would dearly love to add the French Open after losing in the final twice previously (In 2001 and 2003).

She has won 41 singles titles including her 4 Grand Slam titles. Her total prize money is $23,709,674.
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Many believe the powerful baseliner from Belarus to be ready to win a Grand Slam title and she is up to a career best fourth in the world rankings after tournament wins at Indian Wells and Marbella. But there remain question marks over her volatile temperament and she was forced to retire in her last tournament in Rome with a injury to her right elbow.

Azarenka has so far won 7 singles titles and her best at the French Open was a quarter-final finish in 2009.
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The Italian veteran was a shock winner last year - only the second tournament win of her career using guile and tactical nous to frustrate and finally vanquish her bigger and stronger opponents. Although she has done little this year, she has maintained her top five ranking and will hope that she can rekindle the magic that brought her victory last year.

Turning a Pro in 1998, Schiavone has won 4 singles titles.
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This former World No. 1 has struggled on clay throughout her career but won her first title on the surface in Rome last week and has clawed her way back up the world rankings to seventh. She says she will never be a natural on clay but believes that her big-hitting shots allied to the fact that for once she is injury-free could allow her to go deep into the tournament.

She turned a pro in 2001 and since then has won 23 singles titles including 3 Grand Slams. Making it to the semi-finals in 2007 has been her best at the French Open. She has won all other three Grand Slams.
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The World No. 8 from Australia has developed into a formidable player on clay using her big serve and heavy top-spin to destabilise her opponents. She reached the semi-finals in 2009 and lost in the final last year to Schiavone when she was favourite to take the title. Form has been patchy so far this year, but reached the final in Rome last week before losing to Sharapova. She has won just two singles titles since turning a professional in 1999.

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