Who will win the French Open?

[jhar26]

We will see I am quite curious to see how the draw turns out. I am wondering if Radwanska is going to play if she pulls out that could effect the draw for the better for some players ie Errani and maybe Li. I would like to see how the draw stacks for Serena,Maria and Azarenka.

I don't think that Radwanska will be much of a factor even if she does play - clay is clearly not her surface. It's more important if players like Li, Kvitova and Azarenka end up on Serena's or Maria's half of the draw.

 

[Moxie]

We will see I am quite curious to see how the draw turns out. I am wondering if Radwanska is going to play if she pulls out that could effect the draw for the better for some players ie Errani and maybe Li. I would like to see how the draw stacks for Serena,Maria and Azarenka.

I don't think that Radwanska will be much of a factor even if she does play - clay is clearly not her surface. It's more important if players like Li, Kvitova and Azarenka end up on Serena's or Maria's half of the draw.

I agree. I also think Errani, Stosur and even Schiavone could spoil, though I don't consider them likely to win. But they're very dangerous clay players.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I wasn't talking from the stand point of Radwanska being a factor but more along the lines if she doesn't play it being perhaps beneficial for some other players in the draw receiving a bump up if you will. We saw a nice resurgence of Stosur in Rome, so she could be a nasty spoiler in this to someone especially given her dip in the rankings.

On a side note, I went back and watched Serena's French 2002 final and some of her 2003 French matches and Serena 2008 and onward trumps Serena 2002-2003 so it astounds me she only has one French given how much better of a player she is now versus back in those days.

 

[toshiroh]

I wasn't talking from the stand point of Radwanska being a factor but more along the lines if she doesn't play it being perhaps beneficial for some other players in the draw receiving a bump up if you will. We saw a nice resurgence of Stosur in Rome, so she could be a nasty spoiler in this to someone especially given her dip in the rankings.

On a side note, I went back and watched Serena's French 2002 final and some of her 2003 French matches and Serena 2008 and onward trumps Serena 2002-2003 so it astounds me she only has one French given how much better of a player she is now versus back in those days.

Are you serious with this... I'm not sure. Serena 2002-2003 is Peak Serena. Are you a new tennis fan?

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I mean think about it it would be amazing for Errani if she didn't have to face say Serena or Maria or Vika before the semis if seeded 4 rather than the quarters if seeded 5. Seeing as they all use her for target practice.

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I wasn't talking from the stand point of Radwanska being a factor but more along the lines if she doesn't play it being perhaps beneficial for some other players in the draw receiving a bump up if you will. We saw a nice resurgence of Stosur in Rome, so she could be a nasty spoiler in this to someone especially given her dip in the rankings.

On a side note, I went back and watched Serena's French 2002 final and some of her 2003 French matches and Serena 2008 and onward trumps Serena 2002-2003 so it astounds me she only has one French given how much better of a player she is now versus back in those days.

Are you serious with this... I'm not sure. Serena 2002-2003 is Peak Serena. Are you a new tennis fan?

I disagree strongly this is peak Serena we are seeing now. Unforced errors controlled much better, her serve and return much better. I would argue while it started at the French 2002 it got better as time progressed. Serena is playing much smarter tennis now and it shows 12 titles in the span of 13 months. I think where 2002-2003 Serena trumps this 2012-2013 Serena is fitness but at 31 and aging fitness will always be an uphill battle.

 

[toshiroh]

I mean think about it it would be amazing for Errani if she didn't have to face say Serena or Maria or Vika before the semis if seeded 4 rather than the quarters if seeded 5. Seeing as they all use her for target practice.

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I wasn't talking from the stand point of Radwanska being a factor but more along the lines if she doesn't play it being perhaps beneficial for some other players in the draw receiving a bump up if you will. We saw a nice resurgence of Stosur in Rome, so she could be a nasty spoiler in this to someone especially given her dip in the rankings.

On a side note, I went back and watched Serena's French 2002 final and some of her 2003 French matches and Serena 2008 and onward trumps Serena 2002-2003 so it astounds me she only has one French given how much better of a player she is now versus back in those days.

Are you serious with this... I'm not sure. Serena 2002-2003 is Peak Serena. Are you a new tennis fan?

I disagree strongly this is peak Serena we are seeing now. Unforced errors controlled much better, her serve and return much better. I would argue while it started at the French 2002 it got better as time progressed. Serena is playing much smarter tennis now and it shows 12 titles in the span of 13 months. I think where 2002-2003 Serena trumps this 2012-2013 Serena is fitness but at 31 and aging fitness will always be an uphill battle.

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The only thing 2013 Serena does better than 2002-2003 Serena is serve. Everything else.. movement, ground strokes, ROS, fitness, volleys etc... 2002-2003 >>>>>

While this Serena is awesome, the competition is less fierce than 2002-2003

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I admit she gets lazy about movement a bit more but strongly disagree on everything else. She is much cleaner about everything aside from movement at times than she was in 2002-2003. Fitness is an obvious.

 

[Calvy]

I admit she gets lazy about movement a bit more but strongly disagree on everything else. She is much cleaner about everything aside from movement at times than she was in 2002-2003. Fitness is an obvious.

I agree! Serena now would outsmart Serena of 2002-2003, use of angles and wait for smarter opportunities. Not just bang bang.

What Serena of 2002-03 would have is the lack of fear that comes with youth.

 

[toshiroh]

I admit she gets lazy about movement a bit more but strongly disagree on everything else. She is much cleaner about everything aside from movement at times than she was in 2002-2003. Fitness is an obvious.

I agree! Serena now would outsmart Serena of 2002-2003, use of angles and wait for smarter opportunities. Not just bang bang.

What Serena of 2002-03 would have is the lack of fear that comes with youth.

I don't know when any of you started watching Serena, but 2002-2003 Serena is not something you can get off of highlights. While 2012-2013 Serena's domination is great, the opposition that 2002-2003 Serena was dominating was much greater. Capriati, Hingis, Davenport, Venus, Mauresmo, et al>>>>>>> Vika and Sharapova.

2002-2003 Serena's movement alone trumps anything the current Serena can do. The only neutralizer is cureent Serena's serve. 2002-2003 Serena's forehand was more consistent, bh had more variety, does anyone remember the off balance backhand that she used to hit regularly. It's not comparable.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I watched Serena back then too and she was quite an unforced error machine back then her competition wasn't that great back then if she was trumping them all for the big titles. She was a phenomenal competitor back then and played the big points well, but she plays even better than she did now. A lot of times, I would even say she won some ugly looking matches, but she still won because of who she was and what she could do. I just went back to watch a bit of her past matches to compare and contrast then and now. That French Open win was a hideous mess of unforced errors, and she certainly didn't do anything overly amazing but held rather steady to win over her sister. As 2002-2003 progressed, she got it a bit more under control, and she became the force that we know her as today, but Serena has improved drastically in all departments since those days. Her net play was very hit or miss back in the day where as her net play now is much cleaner. Her serve as you said has improved drastically from those days. Now I will admit, her ROS she took larger cuts at the ball than she typically does now, but she is more consistent with it taking her chances when she has to but she gets more in play now than I would say she did back then, her ground game is far more consistent and quite a few less errors. Even back in the Serena Slam days she would have high unforced error counts like in the 30-50 range where as now she has managed to keep it between 10-30. Serena's forehand and backhand are more solid these days. Sure she has the occasional spray match or two, but she is playing within herself and working the points more. I would even say a longer rally favors Serena more now where as back then that was a lot of player's hopes in beating her was to extend the rally because of her impatience. We are just going to have to disagree.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

OK!
Serena is running away with the votes, she has over 90%!

Don't forget folks, this poll expires after 15 days from the date it was posted. No more voting afterwards.
Get your votes in before too late.

 

[tossip]

match by match for Rena.....

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I hope Serena has a decent 1st round opponent because I am sure the nerves are going to creep in because she had another better than expected clay season. Someone who she can hold her nerves against.

 

[colleen66]

I watched Serena back then too and she was quite an unforced error machine back then her competition wasn't that great back then if she was trumping them all for the big titles. She was a phenomenal competitor back then and played the big points well, but she plays even better than she did now. A lot of times, I would even say she won some ugly looking matches, but she still won because of who she was and what she could do. I just went back to watch a bit of her past matches to compare and contrast then and now. That French Open win was a hideous mess of unforced errors, and she certainly didn't do anything overly amazing but held rather steady to win over her sister. As 2002-2003 progressed, she got it a bit more under control, and she became the force that we know her as today, but Serena has improved drastically in all departments since those days. Her net play was very hit or miss back in the day where as her net play now is much cleaner. Her serve as you said has improved drastically from those days. Now I will admit, her ROS she took larger cuts at the ball than she typically does now, but she is more consistent with it taking her chances when she has to but she gets more in play now than I would say she did back then, her ground game is far more consistent and quite a few less errors. Even back in the Serena Slam days she would have high unforced error counts like in the 30-50 range where as now she has managed to keep it between 10-30. Serena's forehand and backhand are more solid these days. Sure she has the occasional spray match or two, but she is playing within herself and working the points more. I would even say a longer rally favors Serena more now where as back then that was a lot of player's hopes in beating her was to extend the rally because of her impatience. We are just going to have to disagree.

I agree, Serena of 2012-2013 (so far) trumps Serena of 2002-2003. Serena of old was one of the fiercest and fearless competitors on a tennis court, but was impatient, had very little net-game and usually had 30+ ufe each match. Serena of today constructs points and is opportunistic. With that said, I think that it is great that we can discuss the same player over a span of 10+ years and debate if said player is better now.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I really hope Serena can maintain her game and come home with Roland Garros. I think it would be one of the biggest highlights for her for her career. I know she will be the happiest girl in town, and I want that for her. I want her hard work to be recognized in the one slam that has proved challenging for her.

 

[Calvy]

When does the draw come out?

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Tomorrow!

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Actually if you really look at Serena's record at the French, where she is really faltering is with players that have the weapons to keep it close. Look at the losses: Henin-2003, Capriati-2004, Henin-2007, Srebotnik-2008, Kuznetsova-2009, Stosur-2010 and Razzano-2012. In those circumstances only the Srebotnik and Razzano losses were the real head scratchers. In all the others, she lost to top 10/slam winners. The danger for Serena is the player that has the weapons to keep it close to her. I am not necessarily looking at say a Vinci as her main kryptonite, but a Sam Stosur that has her forehand cranking and serve working can be nasty for Serena. Given how low say a Kvitova or Stosur is in the rankings at the moment, if they are on and can keep it close to Serena that is where she seems to falter and goes into freak out mode at the French.

 

[Moxie]

Tomorrow!

I can't get a time, but usually around noon local time, i.e., 6am EDT.

 

[tossip]

I am senting good vibes to Rena and wish her all the best...