French Open 2009 Women's Draw

	Downloads Bookmark this site Set as homepage Andrew W Scott

Once again we have a wide open event on the women’s side. There’s not much between the top five in the rankings, the problem is three of them haven’t won a Slam yet and the other two play a limited schedule. Plus there’s more than a handful of promising young players not that far away from a Slam title. The French Open is the Slam most likely to throw up a one Slam wonder for the women. Three of the last six one-hit wonders have been victorious here – will Ivanovic be banished to that category forever? Will another first timer join her? The search for a genuine women’s no.1 continues.

1. Safina – was having trouble with the attention of being world number no.1, particularly without a Slam title to her name, but then unleashed back-to-back wins in Rome and Madrid. Bear in mind though, she only faced one player (Kuznetsova) in that run that I’d class as a top 10 player on clay. Azarenka or Ivanovic in the QF look her biggest threats. 5

2. Serena W – has lost four matches in a row, all due to injury. With her big frame and the way she trains, her injuries tend to switch from one side to the other due to over-compensating. Recent problems have been left thigh and right knee. She has won this title once, and reached one other semi from seven attempts. Can’t have her. 25

3. Venus W – finalist here in 2002, exits between R3 and QF for the past six years. Has played four clay events this season, more than most years. Lost to Safina in Rome (SF) and Kleybanova in Madrid (R2, first match). Faces Lisicki (who beat her in Charleston) or Safarova R2, followed by Szavay R3. Tricky draw, if she gets past those, you never know. 17

4. Dementieva – flying start to the season has stuttered a little on clay. Complained of fatigue initially, has since been beaten by Wozniacki, Kuznetsova and Mauresmo on the red stuff. Has reached the semis of the last three Slams. Her best result here is losing the 2004 final, otherwise last year’s QF appearance is next best. This can be her year if it all clicks. Schiavone/Wickmayer R3 followed by Jankovic/Wozniacki in the quarters lie ahead. 14

5. Jankovic – no.1 to no.5 in four months shows just how close the women’s tour is at the top. Just one final (won Marbella, rather weak clay event) and one semi (Paris Indoor) shows the poor results of her off-season bulking up campaign. Capable of winning here, semi-finalist the last two years but she has been losing to the likes of Schnyder, Pennetta, Dulko, Kanepi, Bartoli – all top 30 players but never threats in a Slam. No easy matches in front of her, if she gets into week two, she’ll be a chance. 11

6. Zvonareva – has been out for five weeks with an ankle injury, a major concern. Was in awesome form before that, winning Indian Wells, reaching the semis in Melbourne. She is a momentum player – when she’s hot, she can keep it going for weeks, but not so great with breaks between events. Good enough on clay, best result here QF back in 2003 but her form of past 12 months clearly the best of her career. 40

7. Kuznetsova – changes to her technique made her by her last coach have been thrown out, and it’s a much happier and attacking Svetlana on the court these days. Semi-finalist in Miami, winner at Stuttgart (beat Safina, breaking a run of six straight losses in finals and 10 losses from 11) and runner-up in Rome (lost to Safina) tell a much better tale. Lost her opening match in Madrid, not too fussed, a break after playing two straight finals and Fed Cup will freshen her up nicely. Really good draw with fitness queries over two main rivals in the bottom quarter. Can win. 5.5

8. Ivanovic – defending champion and finalist the year before. Missed Madrid due to a minor knee injury. It’s worrying she has only played three matches on clay this season, but nothing too unusual in the women. The main concern has been her lack of form. Her great results here in recent years have been on the back of strong form all year. Apart from the final at Indian Wells, where she admitted she wasn’t playing that well anyway, she hasn’t reached the final four of any other event. Faces dropping out of the top 10 if she falls early. Plays dangerous floater Errani R1, she’ll need to be on her game straight away. 15

9. Azarenka – fitness a concern after having left knee problems in Madrid. To her credit, she refused to quit and almost embarrassed Szavay who couldn’t kill her off despite being on one leg. Fantastic season on hardcourt, reached semi in Rome, beaten by Kuznetsova. Yet to get past R4 of a Slam. She’s not the most natural mover on clay, but goes ok on it. Reasonable draw, Ivanovic R4, Safina QF –at her best she can beat the lot. 12

10. Wozniacki – one title and two runners-up trophies on clay this season, the best of which was last week’s loss to Safina in Madrid. Such was the random nature of the event, she didn’t face a seed until the final, so the form isn’t that endorsing. Just two previous appearances here, reached R3 last year. I don’t rate her as a natural on the surface (then again, how many of the women really are?), but it’s hard to argue with a 17-4 clay record this season. Jankovic R4, Dementieva QF ahead of her. 15

11. Petrova – twice a semi-finalist here (03 & 05) but has only won two matches here since. Can be a threat at her best. Injury-interrupted season, reached R4 in Melbourne then had two months off with a foot stress fracture. Form since OK but nothing special. In a soft section of the draw, could go deep. 80

12. A.Radwanska – pulled out of her home event this week due to a lower back strain which occurred in Rome then affected her again Madrid, although she played through it. QFs in Stuttgart (beaten by Safina) and Rome (beaten by Venus). R4 last year, won the juniors here in 06. Made R4 or better of every Slam last year, will push for a title soon when fully fit. 30

13. Bartoli – 9-5 on clay this season, but only two of those wins have been over players ranked in the top 80. Early round losses to Mattek-Sands, Martinez Sanchez and Wozniak don’t inspire. Has won just five matches here in eight years. 1000

14. Pennetta – beat Petrova and Jankovic to reach semi in Stuttgart (lost to Safina in three sets). Last six matches have gone to three sets (split 3-3) which suggests a bit of mind wandering. Reached R4 last year, her best performance in six visits. Complained of a thigh strain in Madrid which pulled her out of the doubles, hasn’t played since. Has halved her ranking since this time last year, could go deep with the right draw. 100

15. Zheng – 5-5 on clay this year, this surface is not for her but she can be more than nuisance value to opponents. 500

16. Mauresmo – SF in Madrid beating Dementieva, only her second clay event of the year. Well-documented poor record here, 12 tries, just two quarter-final appearances. Clay used to be her surface, hasn’t won as title on dirt for four years. Rising 30, won’t have to deal with the pressure of her home crowd many more times. Groenefeld in R1 could bring out those demons again. 1000

17. Schnyder – reached the last four in Madrid by beating Jankovic, Petrova and handy grafters in Errani and Wozniak. Very consistent second week performer, R4 or better in six of last seven times here. Tricky R1 v K.Bondarenko, R2 v Kirilenko, R3 v A.Radwanska, R4 v Kuznetsova. If she gets to week two this year, she’ll have earned it. Not hard enough to ever win one though. 150

18. Medina Garrigues – retired with a back strain this week in Strasbourg. Even if fit, she’s not a threat at this level. Best result here R4. 500

19. Kanepi – Estonian player who likes her donuts. Not the most mobile and has a hip injury to deal with as well. Quarter-finalist here last year, yet to win a title on the main tour. 1000

20. Cibulkova – has retired three times this season and missed a few events (including Rome & Madrid) due to injury. Nine retirements in three years makes her the Gasquet or Mathieu of the WTA tour. If you ever want to back her, make sure you do it with a ‘match must be completed’ bookie. Very good player at her best, but best suited to faster surfaces. Faces A.Bondarenko in R1, will be going home very early if not 100%. 250

21. Cornet – the wheels have fallen off the Mr Whippy van – just two wins from her last eleven matches, and only in the two home Fed Cup rubbers did she win a set in defeat. Home crowd might just turn her form around. Junior champ in 07. 500

22. Suarez Navarro – reached final and semi of two minor Spanish events (Marbella and Barcelona), apart from that she has done nothing since her surprise run in Melbourne. Lost R1 Stuttgart and Madrid, R2 Rome. 250

23. Kleybanova – Krispy Kreme gold card holder who has apparently trimmed up a little. Won most of her lower level events on clay, but hasn’t translated that to the main tour as her mobility gets exploited. Rezai might trouble her in R2. 1000

24. Wozniak – runner-up at Ponte Vedra Beach but hasn’t backed that up in Europe, just 5-5. 500

Others:

29. Szavay – form has been threatening to turn around for a while and reached the quarters in Madrid with some handy wins. Could reach the second week with the right draw. 300

Sharapova – protected ranking, has played three matches in 10 months. Never a chance on clay at her best, plays it like a self-confessed ‘cow on ice’. 1000

Hantuchova – tough R1 against another floater in Makarova. Could knock out a couple of seeds around her. 200

Lisicki – big mover this season. Won Charleston (beat Venus, Bartoli and Wozniacki), then retired in QF at Estoril. Said to be over her shoulder injury and raring to go. Must get past Safarova first before meeting Venus again R2. Top 10 player in the making. 40

Wickmayer – won Estoril and flying on the ITF circuit. Very promising and will cause problems for seeds.300

THE BETS

With so many players having either fitness queries or personal demons, it may be more prudent to wait a few rounds to get involved. Azarenka, Dementieva and Lisicki are worth keeping a close eye on. There’s one player I fancy taking before it all starts – Kuznetsova. She has her issues this season but has turned it around in the last two months. Winning a final over Safina in Stuttgart might just be a turning point for her.

2pts Kuznetsova 7.0 or better (preferably each-way ½ 1,2 with UK books) (@ 10.0 Expekt, Centrebet)

For a longshot to trade, consider Groenefeld and Martinez Sanchez - a little inconsistent but capable of stringing a few wins together at big odds.