The Contenders: Who will reign at the French Open in Serena Williams’ absence?

ByMichael Hincks

Updated 25/05/2017 at 21:06 GMT

Serena Williams’ absence means there is no obvious favourite for the women’s French Open title. Michael Hincks looks at the world’s top 10 and deciphers who can reign supreme at Roland Garros…

N.B. Predictions were made before the draw, so the below scenarios may not all be possible…

1. Angelique Kerber

Previous best: QF 2012

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Kerber is yet to win a WTA title this year, and despite her status as world number one, it would come as a surprise if the German took the crown in Paris.

The two-time Grand Slam champion struggles on clay, and recently lost in straight sets to qualifier Anett Kontaveit at the Rome Open.

Kerber was dumped out of the first round last year, and has not made the quarter-final stage since 2012. A run beyond the last eight would be a shock.

Prediction: Third round

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2. Serena Williams

Absent.

3. Karolina Pliskova

Previous best: 2R 2014, 2015

The Czech is second only to Elina Svitolina in the Race to Singapore standings, and a fruitful 2017 has helped her to a career-high ranking of three.

However, much like Kerber, the 25-year-old has struggled on clay, having made the second round on just two occasions.

Despite the struggles at Roland Garros, Pliskova will expect to make the second week, though a first GS title seems unlikely

Prediction: Quarter-final

4. Simona Halep

Previous best: F 2014

The world number four is actually favourite for the tournament, but you can still get the Romanian at odds of 5/1 – reminiscent more of a golf major than tennis.

The 25-year-old reached the final in 2014, though she has been far from convincing in her other jaunts in Paris – reaching just the fourth round last year, and struggling to get past the second in her other five attempts.

So why is she favourite? Halep has performed strongly on clay this season, winning the Madrid Open before losing the Rome final to Elina Svitolina – an injury scare means she might not be at 100% however.

Prediction: Runner-up – if she remains fit

5. Garbine Muguruza

Previous best: W 2016

The reigning French Open champion has endured an indifferent 2017 after securing her first GS title last year.

The Spaniard retired hurt in Rome, and could be carrying that problem into Roland Garros – she would do well to reach the second week.

Prediction: Fourth round

6. Elina Svitolina

Previous best: QF 2015

The 22-year-old leads the Race to Singapore standings having picked up four singles titles this year, including victory on clay in Rome and Istanbul.

An early exit in Madrid to qualifier Saisai Zheng shows the Ukrainian is far from the polished article, but with the field so open this year, it looks as though Svitolina is the woman to beat.

Halep carries the tag of favourite, but Svitolina could well go all the way and claim her maiden GS title. Though having never reached a semi-final in the majors, she will be entering unknown territory in her bid for glory.

Prediction: Winner

7. Dominika Cibulkova

Previous best: SF 2009

Cilbulkova is practically a tour veteran at 28, with her previous best at the French Open coming eight years ago.

The Slovakian has reached just one GS final in her career (Aus Open 2014) and her form this season suggests a second is unlikely.

Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia celebrates after defeating Simona Halep of Romania

Image credit: Reuters

Round of 32 exits in both Rome and Madrid means Cibulkova could well be one of the first top-10 players to exit the French.

Prediction: Second round

8. Johanna Konta

Previous best: 1R 2015, 2016

The Brit gets better every day, but the 26-year-old is not so strong on clay.

First-round exits in the past two years prove Konta is more than an outsider for glory in France, but her tenacious style means she should never be overlooked.

Venus Williams (R) shakes hands with Johanna Konta

Image credit: Getty Images

Konta has fallen to lower-ranked opposition on clay this season, though a recent defeat to Venus Williams in Rome is nothing to be sneered at.

Prediction: Third round

9. Svetlana Kuznetsova

Previous best: W 2009

The seasoned-pro won the title eight years ago, while she has reached at least the quarter-finals on six other occasions.

The Russian reached the semi-finals in Madrid, but lost to qualifier Daria Gavrilova in Rome – but she certainly has the experience to battle her way into the second week in Paris.

Prediction: Semi-final

10. Agnieszka Radwanska

Previous best: QF 2013

The 28-year-old is down at 50/1 despite her ranking as world number 10.

The Pole made a first-round exit in Stuttgart before suffering an injury ahead of the Madrid Open.

Agnieszka Radwanska

Image credit: Getty Images

Radwanska admitted the clay was not helping her foot problems, and it would not be a surprise to see her retire in the early rounds.

Prediction: Third round – if she remains fit

Other contenders

The eagle-eyed reader will notice we have one semi-final slot up for grabs, and it’s largely down to the struggles many of this top 10 have on clay.

A look at last year’s French Open will tell you that just three of the world’s top 10 reached the quarter-final stage. In fact, just four of the eight were seeded – Serena Williams (1), Garbine Muguruza (4), Timea Bacsinszky (8) and Sam Stosur (21).

All this means that an unseeded player is likely to come to the fore, but if we must pick a semi-finalist, then it would be the ever-improving Kristina Mladenovic, the losing finalist in Stuttgart and Rome.

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