The top WTA threats to win Roland Garros

The last great stop on the clay-court tour slides into Roland Garros where springtime tennis is as savory as one of Paris’ chocolate croissants. The draw will be wide open for a number of WTA star contenders after wading through an unpredictable 2017 season.

Serena Williams won't be in Paris to strike fear through her opponents as she takes time off with her pregnancy. World No. 1 Angelique Kerber has slumped in recent months, and she all but admitted that she is not cut out to win on clay. Two-time French Open queen Maria Sharapova did not get a wild card, and clay has not been as kind to Johanna Konta or Venus Williams.

So who's left with the greatest chance to hold the trophy by fortnight's end?

5

Svetlana Kuznetsova

The world No. 9 won the French Open in 2009, and since late 2016 the 31-year-old Russian has returned to vintage form with power and fierce confidence offsetting some of her past inconsistencies. She was a finalist at Indian Wells and has been solid the past month with physically dominating performances that show she is capable of beating anyone on clay.

4

Karolina Pliskova

A great performance at Roland Garros could send her to the No. 1 ranking, but Pliskova will likely have to wait until she brings her power game to the quicker lawns at Wimbledon. The Czech star has been winning bigger matches and has grown into a recognized star threat, but she sometimes struggles on dirt. The key will be her footwork. Can she grind on defense and pick her spots to hit through the court?

3

Elina Svitolina

Rome champion Elina Svitolina scored a huge title by defeating Pliskova, Garbine Muguruza (who retired while trailing in the semifinals) and Simona Halep. The 22-year-old Svitolina has a tour-leading four titles in 2017 and moved up to a career-high No. 6 ranking. Roland Garros could be the major breakthrough she has been seeking since reaching the quarterfinals in Paris two years ago.

2

Garbine Muguruza

After Madrid’s disastrous loss, it looked like defending French Open champion Muguruza would fade away as a contender. But her run to the Rome semifinals may have revived her confidence. She is comfortable on clay with her Spanish spin and athletic power, and if she is playing well, and stays healthy, she can't be counted out for an encore in Paris.

1

Since Serena’s departure from the tour, Halep has transformed into a more aggressive ball striker to go with the hustle and consistency that make her a whirlwind on clay. The Romanian won Madrid and was a finalist in Rome. She just might be ready to win her first major at age 25. It would be a special kind of redemption after losing the 2014 final to Sharapova and creeping behind Serena as the No. 2-ranked player for most of 2014 and 2015.

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