Top Seeds Avoid Tough Early Round Matches in 2008 French Open Draw

The top players at the 2008 French Open have all avoided pulling tough opening round opponents in the women’s singles main draw.

In the field led by new world No. 1 Maria Sharapova, the top five seeds are Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Serena Williams.

Projected Paths of Top Seven Seeds

(1) Maria Sharapova (First Round: Evgeniya Rodina)
The toughest leg of Maria Sharapova’s pursuit of the career Grand Slam looked a bit easier when the main draw was selected this morning in France. Sharapova, who once described her game on clay akin to a “cow on ice” has a very good chance to go deep into the draw of the one Slam that has eluded her.

She could face a tough match in the quarterfinals against recent Berlin champion Dinara Safina, but with Ivanovic, Jankovic, and both Williams sisters on the other side of the draw, the world No. 1 could not have received a kinder draw.

(2) Ana Ivanovic (First Round: Sofia Arvidsson)
Ana Ivanovic, last year’s finalist, has matured over the past year and with Justine Henin out of the picture, she is now is one of the favorites for the title.

But a few floaters in her quarter of the draw could stop her in her tracks, including Nicole Vaidisova and Lucie Safarova. If these two do not pose enough trouble for the world No. 2, Serena Williams could await her in the quarterfinals.

(3) Jelena Jankovic (First Round: Qualifier)
Jelena Jankovic is fresh off a brilliant title defense in Rome, and now that Henin, the one player who denied her a chance to reach the championship round at two majors has retired, Jelena is arguably one of the Tour’s most effective players on clay.

This may give her a technical edge over other title favorites Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, but it remains to be seen whether Jankovic possesses the passion, fight, and experience to bring home her first Grand Slam title. She will be put to the test early on as her quarter is packed with dangerous foes, including Rome finalist Alize Cornet, Marion Bartoli, Agnieszka Radwanska, and former world number ones Venus Williams and Amelie Mauresmo.

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova (First Round: Aiko Nakamura)
One of the most underestimated of recent Grand Slam champions, Svetlana Kuznetsova has a very good chance of a second breakthrough on Tour. She is comfortable on the surface at Roland Garros, having reached the final in 2006 before becoming yet another of Justine Henin’s clay casualties.

Kuznetsova is in the same weak top half of the draw as Maria Sharapova, and should the seedings hold and Sharapova and Kuznetsova both reach the semifinals, Svetlana would be favored to oust the top seed on Sharapova’s worst surface.

(5) Serena Williams (First Round: Ashley Harkleroad)
An all-Williams final is out of the question with Venus and Serena both in the same half of the draw, but fans could see them battle in the semifinals for a berth in the championship match. Serena, a former 2002 French Open champion, has been one of the best players of 2008 and another Grand Slam title would vastly help her pursuit of reclaiming the number one ranking.

Despite being in the tough section of the draw, Serena has to like her chances, regardless of potential meetings with tricky lefty Patty Schnyder in the round of sixteen and second seed Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals.

(6) Anna Chakvetadze (First Round: Nuria Llagostera Vives)
Again with the absence of Henin, the entire draw at Roland Garros is wide open, making this a prime battle ground for an unheralded winner. Ironically though, players who would have been called surprise champions two weeks ago are now being touted as title contenders.

While Anna Chakvetadze does not fit into the favorites category, she does have an opportunity to make a deep Grand Slam run if Kuznetsova and Sharapova falter before the middle of the second week.

(7) Venus Williams (First Round: Tzipora Obziler)
Like her sister Serena, Venus Williams’ path could lead her straight for a collision course with a rising Serbian star. Jelena Jankovic and V. Williams are far from strangers, having played seven times in their careers. Their most recent encounter was only last week in the quarterfinals of Rome where Venus appeared in control after taking the first set, only to lose 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.

Amelie Mauresmo could face Venus in the fourth round and although the two-time Grand Slam champion has been stuck in a slump for over a year, you can never underestimate the power of an underdog playing on her home turf.

To view a real-time copy of the 2008 Roland Garros draw, please visit the official website.

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