5 Women to Look Out For in French Open: Williams, Halep & More

The Quint takes a look at the top five female players to watch out for in the French Open.

The second grand slam of the year, French Open is set to begin on 22 May. In the women’s draw, Serena Williams, who has won three French Open titles, will be the one to beat yet again.

But the likes of Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep are certainly not going to let go without a fight.

Williams missed out on a chance of winning four grand slams in a calendar year after losing to Roberta Vinci in the semi-final of the US Open and then lost to Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final, earlier this year. Can the world number one player be beaten again?

The Quint takes a look at the five women players to watch out for in the French Open.

1. Serena Williams

Serena Williams is just one grand slam away from equaling Steffi Graf’s record of the second most grand slam singles titles (22). Margaret Court leads the way with 24 titles.

But the American has struggled to notch titles since the Cincinnati Masters in 2015. Williams won her first title in nine months after clinching the Rome Masters on Sunday.

The defending champion will be certainly be looking to get back to being the dominant force in the women’s draw, as she was in 2015.

2. Angelique Kerber

Angelique Kerber has won only two titles this year but one of them was the big one – the Australian Open.

Kerber beat Serena Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the final and clinched her first grand slam title. The world number three also won the clay court tournament in Stuttgart.

Williams will be certainly weary of facing Kerber in another grand slam in the same year.

3. Garbine Muguruza

Garbine Muguruza hasn’t won any titles this season and in fact has won only two titles in her career. But in 2014, she stunned Serena Williams 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the 2014 French Open. Muguruza lost to Sharapova 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the quarter-final.

The world number four reached the semi-final of the Italian Open, which has been her best result this season.

If Muguruza beat Serena in 2014, she can definitely do it again.

4. Simona Halep

Simona Halep has shown shades of brilliance on clay courts over the years. The Junior French Open champion reached the final of the 2014 French Open. She lost to Sharapova 6-4, 6-7, 6-4.

Halep has managed to win only one title this year, which is the Madrid Open (clay court tournament). This shows that she is still threatening on clay.

5. Victoria Azarenka

The former world number one, Victoria Azarenka, has had a good season so far. She has won three singles titles this year. The world number five has won in Brisbane, Indian Wells, and Miami.

Azrenka, who is more comfortable on a hard court, gave tough competition to Serena Williams in the third round of the French Open last year.

She was leading by a set and a break but then lost ten of the last twelve games. Azarenka’s best result in the French Open in the last five years has been a semi-final place in 2013.

The Belarusian lost to Maria Sharapova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.