In watching this year’s French Open, it seems to be Serena Williams’s title to lose. After the surprising retirement of Justine Henin, the field is wide open.

There seems to be a lot of hoopla surrounding Maria Sharapova becoming No.1, but I don’t see the big deal since it came at the expense of losing a great clay court player in Justine Henin. And I can’t remember the last time Sharapova beat Serena.

Williams seems dialled in. She’s fit and seems determined and dedicated to overtaking Sharapova for the top spot. I really don’t see Serena having any problems in winning this year’s French Open. I think if anyone beats Serena, it will be Serena beating herself. 

Her mental game is the toughest out there. If she keeps playing the way she has throughout this year, she will be holding the trophy high, and I think Serena feels she has something to prove to herself and her fans.

I’ve watched both Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic. Neither player has what it takes at this point to beat Serena. Jankovic needs to work on her serve, while Ivanovic moves OK on the clay, but she doesn’t have the mental edge or the power that Serena has. Both Serbs are good tennis players in their own right but when players like the Williams sisters, Sharapova and even Lindsay Davenport are playing at the top of their game, the Serbians don’t stand a chance.

Ordinarily, I would say Serena should beware of her sister Venus but Venus’s focus is off. She doesn’t have the same intensity about her game that she once had. Venus appears to have a rollercoaster game. I don’t see her making it into the third round. Her serve is off and she doesn’t get the ball back in play as often as she used to.

She no longer seems to have the drive or motivation to win a Grand Slam other than Wimbledon. Players no longer fear Venus – or Serena, for that matter – but I think Serena intimidates players more than Venus.

The player I do see having a great run in Paris is Svetlana Kuznetsova. She’s strong and has a great serve and has improved her fitness level. Kuznetsova is the sleeper. I am keeping an eye on her.

What will be interesting to see is the young guns – Anna Chakvetadze, Marion Bartoli and Agnes Szavay. I can’t wait to see how they handle the clay. And, although Dinara Safina beat Serena recently, I don’t see that happening again.

Well, the French Open is in full swing, and the hustle and bustle of the game is being sidelined momentarily due to the rain, but I can’t wait to see Serena win her ninth Major.

From : http://www.sportingo.com/