The French Open starts Sunday at Roland Garros. I think the men's game is where the most excitement will be this year with the women's tournament sure to suffer from the retirement of 2001 and 2003 runner-up Kim Clisters, the inactivity of Amelie Mauresmo, the chronic injuries to 1997 and 1999 runner-up Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, the erratic results of 2003 runner-up Venus Williams. While Clisters and Hingis will not play, I do not think any of the other women mentioned above will win the 2007 French Open either.
So who will win?
It is JUSTINE HENIN'S tournament to lose. She is the two-time defending champion and going after her fourth title in Paris in the last five years. Getting to the finish line of a grand slam tournament does not scare Henin who in addition to playing three French finals, has made it to the Wimbledon final twice (lost both), the Australian Open final twice (1-1) and the U.S. Open final twice (1-1). She also won the 2004 Olympic gold medal. So, she's my pick. I think SERENA WILLIAMS, the 2003 French champ, will shine on the grass of Wimbledon but with her sketchy preparation, I don't see her making it past the quarters at Roland Garros.
So who might Henin face if she makes it to her expected place in the finals? Depending on the draw, she could face third-seed SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA who she beat in the finals last year. Svetlana is the 2004 U.S. Open champion and is playing well on the clay this season making it to the finals of both the Italian Open and the German Open. But she is prone to mental lapses too so I don't see her going all the way unless Henin somehow loses early.
Then there is fifth-ranked JELENA JANKOVIC who beat Svetlana in Rome last week and is poised for a major breakthrough at the age of 18. She could take the title if she doesn't get nervous and things fall her way a bit. She's got the game.
I hope the tournament on the women's side proves me wrong and gets interesting. That will only happen ifd the big names like the Williams sisters, Sharapova and Mauresmo make it to the later rounds and get some momentum going. You really can't put anything behind reigning Australian Open champ Williams once she gets on a roll.
I pick Henin to win her fourth French crown...