HOW THE LEADING WOMEN’S CONTENDERS AND TOP AUSSIE HOPE SHAPE UP FOR THE FRENCH OPEN STARTING ON SUNDAY:
IGA SWIATEK (POL)
Age: 21
Ranking: 1
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US16,854,913
Career titles: 13
Grand slam titles: 3 (French Open 2020, 2022; US Open 2022)
French Open win-loss report: 21-2
Best French Open outcomes: champion 2020, 2022
The Pole does not contemplate the thigh harm that pressured her retirement from the Italian Open quarter-finals “anything serious” and, with one other supreme clay-court marketing campaign below her belt, the two-time champion stays the participant to beat.
ARYNA SABALENKA (BLR)
Age: 25
Ranking: 2
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US16,475,373
Career titles: 13
Grand slam titles: 1 (Australian Open 2023)
French Open win-loss report: 7-5
Best French Open outcomes: third spherical 2020, 2021, 2022
The Belarusian seems a special participant since breaking her grand slam title duck in Melbourne and a victory over Swiatek within the Madrid Open ultimate can have solely additional fuelled her perception {that a} second profession main may very well be within the offing in Paris.
JESSICA PEGULA (USA)
Age: 29
Ranking: 3
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US8,974,756
Career titles: 2
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss report: 6-4
Best French Open consequence: quarter-finalist 2022
Clay has by no means been thought-about the American’s strongest floor however a run to the final eight 12 months in the past at Roland Garros and a semi-final displaying in Charleston earlier than heading to Europe suggests the world No.3 can severely contend.
ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZ)
Age: 23
Ranking: 4
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US10,113,312
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 1 (Wimbledon 2022)
French Open win-loss report: 7-4
Best French Open consequence: quarter-finalist 2021
The reigning Wimbledon champion and Australian Open runner-up proved with title success in Rome and a quarter-final cost two years in the past she’s a real all-court performer and should not be dismissed as a real likelihood of including to her grand slam trophy assortment.
COCO GAUFF (USA)
Age: 19
Ranking: 6
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US6,787,731
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss report: 11-3
Best French Open consequence: runner-up 2022
Incredibly nonetheless a youngster, the American prodigy has but to seek out her toes on clay this season however her grand slam pedigree and credentials cannot be questioned, as proven throughout her run to final yr’s ultimate in Paris.
ONS JABEUR (TUN)
Age: 28
Ranking: 7
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US9,605,308
Career titles: 4
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss report: 8-5
Best French Open outcomes: fourth spherical 2020, 2021
A calf harm has been troubling the Tunisian trailblazer however, if absolutely match, is able to difficult for grand slam glory. Significantly seeded within the prime eight and assured to not strike a higher-ranked rival till the quarter-finals at the least.
BEST OUTSIDER
JELENA OSTAPENKO (LAT)
Age: 25
Ranking: 17
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US12,734,733
Career titles: 5
Grand slam titles: 1 (French Open 2017)
French Open win-loss report: 10-6
Best French Open consequence: champion 2017
The Latvian possesses a comparatively poor report in Paris outdoors her triumph six years in the past however has proven a resurgence in current occasions and will shock with a contact of luck.
BEST AUSSIE HOPE
KIM BIRRELL
Age: 25
Ranking: 111
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize cash: $US718,158
Career titles: 0
Grand slam titles: 0
French Open win-loss report: on debut
The 25-year-old wildcard is making her worldwide grand slam debut after a profession thus far dogged by harm. Hails from the identical Gold Coast membership as former Roland Garros runner-up Samantha Stosur and has undoubted expertise.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
