Roland Garros

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/index.html

One of the great tennis events of the year.

#1 Seed: Lindsay Davenport - The only Grand Slam she hasn't won. Clay definitely her worst surface. Very poor mover/footwork on the dirt. She's never won better than a Tier 3 title on red clay and she won't win this year.

#2 Seed: Maria Sharapova - Has never won a title on red or green clay. had the chance to go to Number 1 on two occassions in the past few weeks and blew them both. Her big-hitting style and lack of patience doesn't suit the surface. She won't win this year.

#3 Seed: Amelie Mauresmo - has the game to win, of that there's no doubt but does she have the mental tenacity. She's well known for her Grand Slam failures including Roland Garros - her home court and favourite surface. An outside chance this year.

#4 Seed: Elena Dementieva - Has played only 1 game on red this swing which she lost. Her infamous weak serve is less of a problem on clay but her mental fragility often sees her collapse in a heap. A finalist last year but this was more of a 'one-off so definitely worth opposing.

#5 Seed: Anastasia Myskina - defending champion beset by personal problems (ill mother) is in a horrible form slump. She's also carrying a nagging shoulde injury which has limited her once-effective serve. She will not win this year and is worth opposing.

#6 Seed: Svetlana Kuznetsova - Hasn't been at her best leading into the tournament and is more of an all round player as opposed to clay specialist. Will win a few but worth opposing later in draw.

#7 Seed: Nadia Petrova - has been in solid form during this clay swing and on her day she can beat the best players. Her one weakness is her mental nerve - like many of her compatriots she can surrender fairly meekly.

#8 Seed: Patty Schnyder - an excellent clay player who is in the best form of her career. Plenty of experience and she can go deep into the draw. Can she win? I doubt it. Her mental discipline is improving but she's prone to the odd shocker. A dark horse worth following.

#9 Seed: Vera Zvonareva - she's all over the place this season. Though winning a few recent games, she's been in a terrible form slump and hasn't won on red clay above Tier 3. Worth opposing as she will throw in a shocker sometime during this tournament.

#10 Seed: Justine Henin-Hardenne - an out-and-out champion on any surface . . . but even better on clay. She's won a couple of tournaments after an 8 month injury layoff and should win this. Not much value in the outrights but worth following later in the tournament.

#11 Seed: Venus Williams - just won the lowly rated Istanbul clay tournament and in good form over the past few weeks. Has a solid clay record and the ability but never seems to fare well at Roland Garros. An outside chance but she'll have to be at her best.

Notes: Kim Clijster's almost withdrew from the tournament and faces a tough draw. Carrying a knee injury so worth opposing later in the draw.

Serena Williams withdrew from tournament.


First round tips posted very soon.