Post by tall_one on May 21, 2004 21:54:46 GMT
Roland Garros: Preview of Top Seeds
As the anticipation grows surrounding the season's second Grand Slam of Roland Garros, following is a look at the Top eight seeds and their performances this year and leading up to this year.
#1 - Justine Henin-Hardenne
The world No. 1 has had a blistering start to 2004, capturing titles at Sydney, the Australian Open, Dubai and Indian Wells. She also has semifinal appearances in Doha and Amelia Island. However, Henin-Hardenne had to take time off the Tour after losing to Mauresmo in Amelia Island due to a viral infection, and is heading into Roland Garros following a lengthy absence from competition.
Henin-Hardenne is the defending champion at Roland Garros, winning last year's title after an exciting three-set battle with Serena Williams in the semifinals followed by dismantling countrywoman Kim Clijsters in the final. Previous to last year, the world No. 1's best result was a semifinal appearance in 2001 before falling to Clijsters. She suffered early round losses in 1999 and 2002.
#2 - Serena Williams
The six-time Grand Slam champion returned to the Tour after an eight month layoff due to knee surgery and won her first tournament back, the Tier I title in Miami. Following that impressive win, she lost to Petrova in the quarterfinals of Amelia Island and pulled out of her second match in Charleston due to a knee injury. In Rome, she stormed through to the semifinals before being upended in straight sets by a resurgent Jennifer Capriati.
Serena Williams won the French Open in 2002 and was beaten in last year's semifinals by Henin-Hardenne. Prior to her championship title, her best result was a quarterfinal finish in 2001, losing to eventual champion Capriati.
#3 - Amelie Mauresmo
The French hopeful has had an excellent start to the season. She made the final in Sydney, but had to pull out of her quarterfinal at the Australian due to a back injury. She returned in Amelia Island where she upset Henin-Hardenne in the semifinals before losing to Davenport in the final. Although she lost in the quarterfinals of Warsaw, she showed her best tennis in capturing consecutive titles in Berlin and Rome, placing her at the forefront of French Open favourites this year.
Mauresmo has had mixed results at Roland Garros. She has played the tournament nine times, but last year was her first time in the quarterfinals, where she was dismantled by Serena Williams in straight sets.
#4 - Venus Williams
A four-time Grand Slam champion, Venus began the year in Australia after being sidelined for six months with injury. She failed to make it past the quarterfinals in her first four tournaments, but has had stellar results since moving to clay, including consecutive titles at Charleston and Warsaw. She made her way to the final of Berlin but had to pull out before taking the court due to an ankle injury.
Venus has never won the French Open, but has had several excellent finishes. In seven attempts, she has reached the final here once in 2002, losing to sister Serena, and has made the quarterfinals on two other occasions, losing to Hingis in 1998 and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 2000.
#5 - Lindsay Davenport
The former world No. 1 has had a remarkable season so far. In six tournaments, she has captured titles in Tokyo and in Amelia Island, reached the final of Indian Wells, and made the semifinals of Sydney. Davenport lost in two close sets to Henin-Hardenne in the Australian Open quarterfinals, and was upset handily in the quarterfinals of Charleston by Patty Schnyder.
The French Open is the only major title eluding Lindsay Davenport. She has played the tournament nine times, her best result being a semifinal loss to eventual champion Sanchez-Vicario in 1998. She made the quarterfinals in 1996, losing to Martinez, and in 1999, losing to Graf.
#6 - Anastasia Myskina
The highest-ranked Russian player has had good results in 2004. She has only lost before the quarterfinals once in seven tournaments, winning in Doha, making the semifinals of Indian Wells, and reaching four other quarterfinals.
Myskina is hoping to reverse her fortune at this year's tournament. In four tries, she has not made it past the 2nd round.
#7 - Jennifer Capriati
Returning to competition in February from a career-threatening back injury, Capriati only advanced past the round of 16 in one of her first four tournaments, where she suffered a crushing semifinal defeat to Myskina in Doha. However, she has thrived on the European red clay, making the semifinals of Berlin and the final of Rome, both times losing to Mauresmo.
Capriati has played the French Open ten times, winning the title in 2001 in a thrilling three-set battle over Kim Clijsters. She has made the semifinals twice, including a 2002 loss to Serena Williams, and the quarterfinals twice as well.
#8 - Nadia Petrova
Ranked No. 71 heading into last year's Roland Garros, the big-hitting Russian enters this year's tournament as the world No. 7. In eight tournaments, she has advanced to one final in Canberra, semifinals in Miami and Amelia Island, and one quarterfinal in Charleston.
Petrova has played the French Open three times, her best result being last year's semifinal finish, losing in straight sets to finalist Kim Clijsters.
She lost in the round of 16 in 2001 to Serena Williams, and in the opening round in 2000 to Anke Huber.
More to Watch
In addition to the top eight seeds, several other players have their sights set on sticking around until the second week. These include Russians Vera Zvonareva and Svetlana Kuznetsova, who have had very good starts to
the season.
Zvonareva won her second career title in Memphis and has made the semifinals of Warsaw and Rome this year. Her thrilling win over Venus Williams on her way to the quarterfinals here last year will surely inspire her to bring her best once again. Kuznetsova has wins over Henin-Hardenne and Venus Williams
this year. She has also proven herself on clay, making the final of Warsaw and reaching the quarterfinals in Berlin and Rome.
Other players who have enjoyed past glory at Roland Garros who have shown solid form this season are Conchita Martinez, Patty Schnyder and Francesca Schiavone.
Spanish veteran Martinez has played this tournament sixteen times, reaching the final here in 2000, in addition to three semifinals appearances and seven quarterfinals appearances. She made the final in Charleston this year before losing to Venus Williams in three sets.
Schnyder made the quarterfinals here in 1998 and has reached the round of 16 here the last two years.
Schnyder made the semifinals at the Australian Open this year and made the semifinals of Charleston, losing to Martinez.
Schiavone made it all the way to the quarterfinals in 2001 here before losing to Martina Hingis. She has moved into the top 20 recently and her year is highlighted by a win in the quarterfinals of Warsaw over French Open favourite Mauresmo.
As the anticipation grows surrounding the season's second Grand Slam of Roland Garros, following is a look at the Top eight seeds and their performances this year and leading up to this year.
#1 - Justine Henin-Hardenne
The world No. 1 has had a blistering start to 2004, capturing titles at Sydney, the Australian Open, Dubai and Indian Wells. She also has semifinal appearances in Doha and Amelia Island. However, Henin-Hardenne had to take time off the Tour after losing to Mauresmo in Amelia Island due to a viral infection, and is heading into Roland Garros following a lengthy absence from competition.
Henin-Hardenne is the defending champion at Roland Garros, winning last year's title after an exciting three-set battle with Serena Williams in the semifinals followed by dismantling countrywoman Kim Clijsters in the final. Previous to last year, the world No. 1's best result was a semifinal appearance in 2001 before falling to Clijsters. She suffered early round losses in 1999 and 2002.
#2 - Serena Williams
The six-time Grand Slam champion returned to the Tour after an eight month layoff due to knee surgery and won her first tournament back, the Tier I title in Miami. Following that impressive win, she lost to Petrova in the quarterfinals of Amelia Island and pulled out of her second match in Charleston due to a knee injury. In Rome, she stormed through to the semifinals before being upended in straight sets by a resurgent Jennifer Capriati.
Serena Williams won the French Open in 2002 and was beaten in last year's semifinals by Henin-Hardenne. Prior to her championship title, her best result was a quarterfinal finish in 2001, losing to eventual champion Capriati.
#3 - Amelie Mauresmo
The French hopeful has had an excellent start to the season. She made the final in Sydney, but had to pull out of her quarterfinal at the Australian due to a back injury. She returned in Amelia Island where she upset Henin-Hardenne in the semifinals before losing to Davenport in the final. Although she lost in the quarterfinals of Warsaw, she showed her best tennis in capturing consecutive titles in Berlin and Rome, placing her at the forefront of French Open favourites this year.
Mauresmo has had mixed results at Roland Garros. She has played the tournament nine times, but last year was her first time in the quarterfinals, where she was dismantled by Serena Williams in straight sets.
#4 - Venus Williams
A four-time Grand Slam champion, Venus began the year in Australia after being sidelined for six months with injury. She failed to make it past the quarterfinals in her first four tournaments, but has had stellar results since moving to clay, including consecutive titles at Charleston and Warsaw. She made her way to the final of Berlin but had to pull out before taking the court due to an ankle injury.
Venus has never won the French Open, but has had several excellent finishes. In seven attempts, she has reached the final here once in 2002, losing to sister Serena, and has made the quarterfinals on two other occasions, losing to Hingis in 1998 and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 2000.
#5 - Lindsay Davenport
The former world No. 1 has had a remarkable season so far. In six tournaments, she has captured titles in Tokyo and in Amelia Island, reached the final of Indian Wells, and made the semifinals of Sydney. Davenport lost in two close sets to Henin-Hardenne in the Australian Open quarterfinals, and was upset handily in the quarterfinals of Charleston by Patty Schnyder.
The French Open is the only major title eluding Lindsay Davenport. She has played the tournament nine times, her best result being a semifinal loss to eventual champion Sanchez-Vicario in 1998. She made the quarterfinals in 1996, losing to Martinez, and in 1999, losing to Graf.
#6 - Anastasia Myskina
The highest-ranked Russian player has had good results in 2004. She has only lost before the quarterfinals once in seven tournaments, winning in Doha, making the semifinals of Indian Wells, and reaching four other quarterfinals.
Myskina is hoping to reverse her fortune at this year's tournament. In four tries, she has not made it past the 2nd round.
#7 - Jennifer Capriati
Returning to competition in February from a career-threatening back injury, Capriati only advanced past the round of 16 in one of her first four tournaments, where she suffered a crushing semifinal defeat to Myskina in Doha. However, she has thrived on the European red clay, making the semifinals of Berlin and the final of Rome, both times losing to Mauresmo.
Capriati has played the French Open ten times, winning the title in 2001 in a thrilling three-set battle over Kim Clijsters. She has made the semifinals twice, including a 2002 loss to Serena Williams, and the quarterfinals twice as well.
#8 - Nadia Petrova
Ranked No. 71 heading into last year's Roland Garros, the big-hitting Russian enters this year's tournament as the world No. 7. In eight tournaments, she has advanced to one final in Canberra, semifinals in Miami and Amelia Island, and one quarterfinal in Charleston.
Petrova has played the French Open three times, her best result being last year's semifinal finish, losing in straight sets to finalist Kim Clijsters.
She lost in the round of 16 in 2001 to Serena Williams, and in the opening round in 2000 to Anke Huber.
More to Watch
In addition to the top eight seeds, several other players have their sights set on sticking around until the second week. These include Russians Vera Zvonareva and Svetlana Kuznetsova, who have had very good starts to
the season.
Zvonareva won her second career title in Memphis and has made the semifinals of Warsaw and Rome this year. Her thrilling win over Venus Williams on her way to the quarterfinals here last year will surely inspire her to bring her best once again. Kuznetsova has wins over Henin-Hardenne and Venus Williams
this year. She has also proven herself on clay, making the final of Warsaw and reaching the quarterfinals in Berlin and Rome.
Other players who have enjoyed past glory at Roland Garros who have shown solid form this season are Conchita Martinez, Patty Schnyder and Francesca Schiavone.
Spanish veteran Martinez has played this tournament sixteen times, reaching the final here in 2000, in addition to three semifinals appearances and seven quarterfinals appearances. She made the final in Charleston this year before losing to Venus Williams in three sets.
Schnyder made the quarterfinals here in 1998 and has reached the round of 16 here the last two years.
Schnyder made the semifinals at the Australian Open this year and made the semifinals of Charleston, losing to Martinez.
Schiavone made it all the way to the quarterfinals in 2001 here before losing to Martina Hingis. She has moved into the top 20 recently and her year is highlighted by a win in the quarterfinals of Warsaw over French Open favourite Mauresmo.
