Naomi Osaka will have to defeat at least one grand slam champion on route to the third round of the French Open as she bids to win her first ever WTA title on the clay.
The world No.1 headlines this year’s field at Roland Garros, which features 128 players. 21-year-old Osaka will open up her campaign against Anna Karolína Schmiedlová. A Slovakian player that has been ranked as high as 26th in the world, but hasn’t won a match at the French Open since 2014. Then in the second round, Osaka will have to play the winner of an intriguing opening clash between 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka. The risks do not end there with Greece’s Maria Sakkari standing as a potential third round opponent. Sakkari recently won the Moroccan Open and reached the semi-finals of Rome as a qualifier.
Osaka potential path to the final
R1: Schmiedlova
R2: Ostapenko/Azarenka
R3: Sakkari
R4: Keys/Garcia
QF: Serena/Andreescu
SF: Halep/Kvitova #RG19— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) May 23, 2019
Osaka is bidding to win her third grand slam in a row. Something last achieved by Serena Williams back in 2015. However, she has endured a from from perfect clay season so far. Withdrawing from both Stuttgart and Rome midway through due to injury. The top seed has reached the quarter-finals or better at her past three tournaments.
Ninth seed Elina Svitolina last recorded a victory on the tour back in March in Indian Wells. Since then, she was sidelined by injury before losing two opening matches at clay-court tournaments. In Paris, she faces a tough start to her campaign in the shape of veteran player Venus Williams. Further, in the draw, Garbine Muguruza is a potential rival in the round of 32 followed by last year’s runner-up Sloane Stephens. Svitolina is a two-time quarter-finalist at Roland Garros.
Defending champion Simona Halep finds herself in a strong position during the first week. The Romanian will not play a player ranked higher than 27th until at least the fourth round. She will start against Ajla Tomljanović, followed by either Chloe Piquet or Magda Linette if she wins. Halep has contested the final of the tournament three times since 2014.
Halep is here! Her potential route to a fourth final:
R1: Tomljanovic
R2: Linette
R3: Tsurenko/Bouchard
R4: Wang/Kasatkina
QF: Kvitova/Sabalenka
SF: Osaka/Serena/BartyShe says: “I hope I can win some matches.” #RG19 pic.twitter.com/EMswdqePuB
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) May 23, 2019
Venus’ sister Serena is somebody that many will be keeping an eye on in the women’s draw. The 22-time grand slam champion has only played one competitive match on the clay so far this season before withdrawing from the Italian Open with a knee injury. She will open up against Vitalia Diatchenko, who has been playing mainly on the ITF tour in recent months. Further on, she could take on rising star Bianca Andreescu in the third round, followed by Ashleigh Barty.
Elsewhere in the draw, world No.2 Karolina Pliskova starts against Madison Brengle as she seeks her first grand slam trophy. Petra Kvitova faces Sorana Cirstea and Kiki Bertens will play home player Pauline Parmentier. Finally, Aryna Sabalenka faces a difficult opening match against Dominika Cibulkova.
The women’s draw will start on Sunday at 10am local time.
The projected path based on rankings
Fourth round
Osaka-Keys
Serena-Barty
Halep-Wang Q.
Sabalenka-Kvitova
Bertens-Bencic
Svitolina-Stephens
Sevastova-Kerber
Pliskova-Wozniacki
Quarter-finals
Osaka-Barty
Halep-Kvitova
Bertens-Stephens
Pliskova-Kerber
Semi-finals
Osaka-Halep
Bertens-Pliskova
The full draw
Top
Bottom
