FRENCH OPEN 2019: Serena Williams tries again for 24th major
FILE – In this June 2, 2018, file photo, Serena Williams of the United States, returns a shot against Germany’s Julia Georges during their third round match at the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Women to watch at the French Open, where play begins Sunday:
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NAOMI OSAKA
Ranked: 1
Country: Japan
Age: 21
2019 Match Record: 19-5
2019 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 3
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 2 — Australian Open (2019), U.S. Open (2018)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-Lost in 3rd Round, 2017-1st, 2016-3rd, 2015-Did Not Play, 2014-DNP
Aces: After going only 5-4 on clay last year, heads to Paris with a 7-1 mark on the surface in 2019. … Withdrew with injuries from tournaments in Stuttgart (abdominal muscle) and Rome (thumb).
Topspin: Big hitting carried her to two Grand Slam titles in a row on hard courts. Clay presents different challenges.
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SIMONA HALEP
Ranked: 3
Country: Romania
Age: 27
2019 Match Record: 23-8
2019 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 18
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 1 — French Open (2018)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-Won Championship, 2017-Runner-Up, 2016-4th, 2015-2nd, 2014-RU
Aces: Among the WTA’s top 10 in break points converted and first-serve percentage in 2019. … Pulled out of Italian Open with hamstring problem, but said she was sure she’d be OK for Paris.
Topspin: Tries to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time. Her movement and defense-to-offense skills have carried her to three of the past five finals at Roland Garros.
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KIKI BERTENS
Ranked: 4
Country: Netherlands
Age: 27
2019 Match Record: 26-10
2019 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 9
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 — Best: SF, French Open (2016)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-3rd, 2017-2nd, 2016-SF, 2015-1st, 2014-4th
Aces: Ranks in the tour’s top two in aces and service points won this season. … Hit 20 aces in one match. … At past three clay events, went semifinals-title-semifinals.
Topspin: Has the game and the confidence to go far in Paris. Many in tennis think she is ready to play well deep into the second week at a major tournament.
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PETRA KVITOVA
Ranked: 6
Country: Czech Republic
Age: 29
2019 Match Record: 28-8
2019 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 27
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 2 — Wimbledon (2011, 2014)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-3rd, 2017-2nd, 2016-3rd, 2015-4th, 2014-3rd
Aces: Pulled out of Rome with a left calf issue. … Is third on tour in aces this year, but also has hit by far the most double-faults.
Topspin: Since getting to the 2012 semifinals at Roland Garros, only has been past the third round once. Her strong lefty strokes and recent form on clay could mean that changes this year.
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SLOANE STEPHENS
Ranked: 7
Country: United States
Age: 26
2019 Match Record: 14-9
2019 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 6
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 1 — U.S. Open (2017)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-RU, 2017-DNP, 2016-3rd, 2015-4th, 2014-4th
Aces: Recently hired coach Sven Groeneveld, who has worked with such past French Open champions as Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic.
Topspin: Run to last year’s final in Paris showed that Stephens is capable of winning a Grand Slam championship on clay to go with her hard-court title from the U.S. Open.
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ASH BARTY
Ranked: 8
Country: Australia
Age: 23
2019 Match Record: 24-5
2019 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 4
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 0 — Best: QF, Australian Open (2019)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-2nd, 2017-1st, 2016-DNP, 2015-DNP, 2014-1st
Aces: After going 1-6 against top-10 opponents in 2018, she is 6-4 in those matches in 2019. … Played cricket while away from the tour for nearly two years after the 2014 U.S. Open.
Topspin: After major breakthroughs at the Australian Open in January and when she collected the title at the Miami Open in March, seems poised to show big improvement on her 2-5 career record at the French Open.
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SERENA WILLIAMS
Ranked: 10
Country: United States
Age: 37
2019 Match Record: 7-2
2019 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 72
Grand Slam Singles Titles: 23 — French Open (2002, 2013, 2015), Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017), Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016), U.S. Open (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Last 5 French Opens: 2018-4th, 2017-DNP, 2016-RU, 2015-W, 2014-2nd
Aces: Back in the top 10 this year after dropping out of the top 400 while away from the tour to have a baby. … After missing about 1½ years of majors, reached two Grand Slam finals in 2018. … Pulled out of last two tournaments because of injured left knee.
Topspin: Comes to Paris with only one clay-court match since last year’s French Open. There’s also uncertainty about the status of her knee. So while she’s always considered a favorite, no matter the site or surface, when she is healthy, it is hard to know what to expect from her this time around.
