Posted on 5/28/2007 7:26:26 PM

Tennis Betting- French Open Preview- Women’s Singles

By Nila Amerova

Paris, France – Women’s tennis is yet again in a development phase. It is evolving; increasingly moving towards greater power, but few have the ability to harness their wild strokes and serves. Women’s tennis is also in a state of transition where the young have not found a way to factor in and the veterans struggle with injuries and languor. Therefore, with women’s tennis in such a haphazard state, how does this translate for the odds on the French Open?

Justine Henin - Current No. 1 Justine Henin, returning to Paris to defend her title, is perhaps the most consistent player on the women’s tour. Her all-court game comprises of great footwork, power and savvy. She is a wily opponent, capable of schooling opponents in spectacular fashion. The red dirt of Roland Garros favors her smart game, allowing her to outwit power erratic opponents.

Henin’s Achilles heel has been her health, which, lately, has caused her to fade right before the finish line. Nevertheless, Henin is without a doubt one of the most threatening players on clay and in this tournament. She is heavily favored to go the distance.

Maria Sharapova - Returning to tournament play is No. 2 Maria Sharapova, who has been absent since the Miami Masters Series. Maria Sharapova, owing to her rank, is a favorite, albeit an unpredictable one. Struggling with injuries and a weak serve, Sharapova, despite her favoritism, is by far a long shot for the final on her least favorite surface.

An in-form Sharapova should advance at the very least to the quarterfinal round, where her first real challenge could present itself in the form of Anna Chakvetadze. But with limited play in the last few months, and hardly any on clay, the odds are against Sharapova factoring in this tournament in any significant way.

 

Serena Williams - No one has more heart than No. 8 Serena Williams. A powerful player, Serena Williams is the most capable on the women’s tour to slug it out. Following a bout with injuries and family issues, Serena Williams returned to the WTA with a vengeance this year. Hijacking the Australian Open and the Miami Masters Series, Serena Williams punctuated her comeback with an exclamation point. Breaking into the top ten, Serena Williams is one of the players to watch in Paris.

Falling into the same half of the draw as Justin Henin, Serena Williams should sail through the rounds without a problem until the predicted meeting with her nemesis in the quarterfinal. Largely considered the players to beat, a potential quarterfinal between these two co-favorites would have serious ramifications for the rest of the tournament.

With either Henin or Williams securing one of the coveted semifinal spots, the other semifinal spots are for the taking. Moreover, with one of the co-favorites bound to be eliminated in the quarterfinal, the French Open final may very well play host to an unlikely contender. So who are the potential candidates?

Other contenders:

Jelena Jankovic – Ranked fifth in the world, Jankovic is one of the young players on the tour that has been improving the most steadily. Winning the Masters Series in Rome has improved her odds for this Grand Slam event.

Ana Ivanovic – Breaking into the top ten, No. 7 Ivanovic is another rising young star. With her victory in Berlin a few weeks ago, Ana Ivanovic is favored to make an impressive run at Roland Garros.

Svetlana Kuznetsova – World No. 3 Svetlana Kuznetsova is an unassuming player who regularly sneaks into the late rounds of tournaments. Kuznetsova is a good play to make it deep into the French Open.

Nicole Vaidisova – Ranked 10th in the world, Vaidisova is player whose incessantly-touted potential has yet to translate into a Grand Slam title. Nevertheless, she is a good play at the very least to the quarterfinal round, if not the semifinal.

Lucie Safarova – An up and coming player, and one to watch out for, at the Australian Open, Safarova orchestrated an upset by defeating defending champion Amelie Mauresmo. Moreover - with clay one of her best surfaces - her odds improve on this surface that factors so much into the results of each match.

Anna Chakvetadze – Another up and coming player, Chakvetadze has a good chance of appearing in the semifinal. With the biggest obstacle to a berth in the semifinal being a potential matchup with an unpredictable Sharapova in the quarterfinal, do not be too surprised when Chakvetadze advances.

With the 2007 season fraught with many surprise results and subplots on the women’s tour, the French Open will not be exempt. In 2007, we have seen the resurgence of the Williams sisters; the collapse of Sharapova; the retirement of Kim Clijsters; the rise of the young - namely Jankovic and Ivanovic - and the fall of the old. The continuous transition and evolution of women’s tennis all points to one exciting conclusion - a new Roland Garros Champion!

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Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.