French Open Women, Bottom 1/2 Draw
Analysis of Women's Singles Draw, Lower Section at Roland Garros
Former champion and no. 5 seed Amelie Mauresmo is the best bet to emerge from the bottom-half of the women's French Open singles Draw.
The bottom-half of the women’s French Open singles draw seems to be set up nicely for no.2 seed Maria Sharapova, but Sharapova may have a difficult time even getting past the first round against Emilie Loit of France. Loit is ranked no.41 in the world, but is no.31 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Points Race, with a 16-9 win-loss record on the year. French players are usually inspired beyond their rankings at Roland Garros, and Loit has won a Sony Ericsson event on clay earlier this year. Loit also has played several seeded players tough this year, including a three-set-loss to Henin on carpet, and a win over no.20-seed Sybile Bammer. If Sharapova couldn’t get past no.43-ranked Aravane Rezai in Istanbul, she should have an even harder time against Loit.
Bottom-Half Threats
The primary threats to emerge from the bottom-half of the draw at Roland Garros would appear to be former French Open Champion and no.5 seed Amelie Mauresmo, and no.3 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. However, keep an eye on no.15 seed Shahar Peer of Israel who is due for a breakthrough tournament after playing well all year.
Mauresmo Back in Form
Playing three consecutive tournaments after a 10-week layoff, Amelie Mauresmo should have played herself back into form by now and has a favorable draw. The favorable draw should be no surprise there, given the way the French take care of their own. Mauresmo should make the round of 16 where she could match up with ninth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze, the 20-year-old Russian with big shots off both sides. Chakvetadze has given Mauresmo good matches this year, most recently a three-setter in March on carpet, and the clay of Roland Garros will be an equalizer.
To get to Mauresmo, Chakvetadze, who hasn’t been playing her best recently, will have to surpass no.21 seed Ai Sugiyama, if Sugiyama holds her seeding. She should do so, but look for Mauresmo to advance past anyone in her segment to a quarter-final duel with either no.14 seed Patty Schnyder or no.22 seed Alona Bondarenko.
Schnyder and Bondarenko Playing Well
Schnyder has been playing excellent tennis, taking a three-setter from Serena Williams in Rome earlier this month. Schnyder pulled out of a scheduled semi-final against Bondarenko in Istanbul a week later, and Bondarenko went on to lose in the final to no.4 Jelena Jankovic. Both Schnyder and Bondarenko are playing well, so they should have an interesting first, head-to-head match-up should they both hold their seeds. If Schnyder is not hurt, look for her to triumph over Bondarenko in a close one and face Mauresmo in the quarters.
Kuznetsova Solid All Year
Svetlana Kuznetsova has climbed to no.2 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Points Race with a solid campaign this year, including four finals appearances. In order to make another final, however, Kuznetsova will have to get past Shahar Peer, to whom she has lost twice this year in big tournaments: at the Australian Open and WTA Miami, the latter in three sets. Peer is likely to get through Kuznetsova again and make it to the quarters where she will potentially match-up with either no.12 seed Daniela Hantuchova or no.7 seed Ana Ivanovic.
Mauresmo Through to Final
Peer has beaten Ivanovic the one time they have played this year, but Hantuchova has beaten Peer twice in three sets. Ivanovic and Hantuchova should make it to the round of 16, where they will have their first head-to-head match-up. Look for Ivanovic to make it through to the quarters and a struggle with either Peer or Kuznetsova. Despite the talented youngsters, Mauresmo's experience will probably bring her through to the final. Regardless of who makes it to the final from this half of the French Open women’s singles draw, the champion will come from the top-half of the draw.
