French Open Preview

The second Grand Slam event of the tennis season begins on Sunday, May 23rd.  A few injuries, both on the mens and womens side has weakened the field a little bit, but most of the top players will be participating.

Womens Preview:

What:  French Open

Where:  Paris, France

Surface:  Red Clay

Event:  Grand Slam

Defending Champion:  Svetlana Kuznetsova

Top 8 seeds and world ranking:
1. Serena Williams (#1)
2. Venus Williams (#2)
3. Caroline Wozniacki (#3)
4. Jelena Jankovic (#4)
5. Elena Dementieva (#5)
6. Svetlana Kuznetsova (#6)
7. Samantha Stosur (#7)
8. Agnieszka Radwanska (#8)

Other notables in the field:  Basically anyone in the top 100 and not injured is in the 128 player field.

Midland "Jobbers" making the field:  Katie O'Brien, Vania King, Sofia Arvidsson, Elena Baltacha, Stephanie Dubois, Anne Keothavong, Lucie Hradecka,

My Picks, and my girlfriend Katies picks:

My semifinal pairings are Justine Henin  vs.  Jelena Jankovic  and Flavia Pennetta  vs. Venus Williams.  With Justine Henin defeating Venus Williams in the final.

Katie's semifinal pairings are Justine Henin vs. Dinara Safina and Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Venus Williams.  She has Justine Henin defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final.


Mens Preview:

What:  French Open
Where:  Paris, France
Surface:  Red Clay
Event:  Grand Slam
Defending Champion:  Roger Federer

Top 8 seeds and world rankings
1. Roger Federer (#1)
2. Rafael Nadal (#2)
3. Novak Djokovic (#3)
4. Andy Murray (#4)
5. Robin Soderling (#7)
6. Andy Roddick (#8)
7. Fernando Verdasco (#9)
8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (#10)

Other notables in the field:  Basically anyone in the top 100 and not injured is in the 128 player field.

Katie and I's picks.

My semifinal matchups are Roger Federer vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and David Ferrer vs. Rafael Nadal, with Rafael Nadal beating Roger Federer for the championship.

Katie's semifinal matchups are Roger Federer vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and David Ferrer vs. Rafael Nadal.  She has Roger Federer defeating Rafael Nadal to become back-to-back champion.