TENNIS 2014 FRENCH OPEN – The Draw for the Women’s singles tournament has put two of the favourites in the same quarter, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. Other possible quarter finals are: Radwanska vs Kerber, Kvitova vs Halep and Jankovic vs Li Na. Paul Sassoon
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Rafael Nadal was the man who made the draw and his hand put Maria Sharapova in a collision course with Serena Williams, but not in the semifinals or in the finals, but as early as the quarter finals. Also Radwanska and Kerber are in the top half of the draw. In the bottom half Li Na is the top seed and could face Jankovic in the quarter finals. Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep are the other two seeds that could reach the quarter finals in the bottom half of the draw
First quarter of the draw: S. Williams – Maria Sharapova
Serena and Maria will probably meet in the quarter finals for a clash that is worthy of the final itself. Unfortunately for the organisers Nadal’s draw set them in the same quarter thus taking away the opportunity of seeing the two dominant forces on clay court to meet in the final. Defending champion and world number 1 will make her debut against French Wild Card Alizé Lim. Next on her path she could find two young talents like Muguruza and Bencic in the third round. But there is a chance of seeing a clash with her sister Venus for the first time in a while should the elder Williams sister beat Bencic. On paper Lisicki could be waiting for Serena in the last 16.The German’s biggest threat to get to the second week is Italy’s Roberta Vinci. The path tot he quarter final seems easier (on paper) for the Russian. She will debut against a qualifier, Kanepi will probably be her opponent in the third round and either Cibulkova or Stosur in the last 16.
Second quarter of the draw: Radwanska – Kerber
World number 3 Agnieszka Radwanska has a difficult start to the tournament against Zhang who reached the quarter finals in Rome last week. If she can get past this difficult first round she shouldn’t have much trouble to reach the last 16 when she could play against either Alize Cornet or Carla Suarez Navarro. Also the German has a difficult path to the quarter final and could easily be one of the seeds that does not make it to the last 8. After a debut against Piter she could face Pennetta in the last 16 of Eugenie Bouchard, both tough opposition for Angelique Kerber.
Third quarter of the draw: Kvitova – Halep
As for the previous quarter discussed, this one sees Kvitova and Halep favoured by their ranking, but they could both fall before the last 8 easily, especially for the Czech. In the last 16 Kvitova could play Ivanovic and the Serb has shown that she is in form reaching the final in Rome last week end. But before a clash with the former French Open Champion, Kvitova will have to get past Kuznetsova and young Italian Camila Giorgi. Ivanovic has Caroline Garcia as the biggest threat to her arriving to the last 16 and it’s also the most interesting first round match on paper. Halep skipped the Rome event so there is some doubt over her form. In the first round she will be immediately tested against Kleybanova, but then the only other threat could come from Sloan Stephens even if the American has not lived up to expectations this year.
Fourth quarter of the draw: Jankovic – Li Na
Jelena Jankovic has a simple draw until the last 16 on paper. The Serb’s only threat could come from Sorana Cirstea, but in the last 16 she could meet Sara Errani. The Italian will have to beat Keys on her debut and then Flipkens, but the Belgian does not play her best on clay. The second seed has a difficult draw to get to the clash with either Jankovic or Errani. She will debut against Mladenovic and then in the third round she could face Andrea Petkovic followed by Wozniacki in the last 16. Li Na can beat all of her opponents on paper, but they could test her and cause the Chinese former champion to waste valuable energy along the way.
