french open

So we are at the second of the four annual Grand Slams, the major tennis tournaments throughout the year, Australian, Wimbledon, and US Open being the other three. The surfaces vary somewhat in the four slams, and the French is the only major on clay. The clay courts are slower making it harder to hit a winning shot and typically favor those who move well with the signature slide.

The men’s field is lining up as expected. Three time French winner Nadal (ranked 2) trying to make it four. He’s got to knock out Djokovic (3) in the semis, and Djokovic won the Australian and has been proving himself a worthy opponent throughout the year. But Nadal is a master on clay and he’s expected to face Federer (1) who just has to take out Frenchman Monfils on his side for them to repeat last year’s final.

But will it be a true repeat or does Federer have a chance to take his one unclaimed slam? I have to admit that I think Federer is such a great player overall that he deserves to get this under his belt. But this might not be the year, he had a slow start due to of all things mono, but he seems to be back where he needs to be.

The women’s field started pretty wide open this year with former French winner and overall number one Justine Henin retiring prior to the start of the whole shebang (no one is quite sure why she retired, no more oomph?). Sharapova won the Australian and inherited the first rank but clay isn’t her surface and she just never got in the zone. And the still potentially great but sporadic Williams sisters got knocked out as well.

So who do we turn to? Up and comer Ivanovic (2) defeated Jankovic (3) in what turned out to be a Serb semi and will face Safina (13), the winner over Kuznetsova (4) in the Russian semi. We didn’t have a previous French winner in the bunch and Kuznetsova was the only one to have previously won a slam with the US Open, but her play is just too sporadic. I have to admit I like the favorite Ivanovic, she’s just sort of adorable, not only quite pretty but she always seems perky and happy and has been proving herself with a steady rise. Ivanovic also takes over the number 1 rank by reaching the finals over the rest of the lot.

NBC network coverage (times noted are PST) and full coverage at http://www.rolandgarros.com/