Follow French Open qualifiers LIVE ahead of Serena Williams return to big time at Roland Garros
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 23/05/2018 at 15:24 GMT
Convention would have it that to succeed on the gruelling clay courts of Roland Garros requires playing a stack of matches and having miles in your legs.
Serena Williams poses with her trophy and her dog named Chip in the dressing room after winning the French Open
Image credit: Reuters
But then Serena Williams has never been one to take too much notice of convention.
The 23-times grand slam singles champion will be back at Roland Garros having missed last year's event as she prepared to have her first child, Alexis Olympia, who was born in September.
Before that, a host of familiar (and slightly less familar) names will attempt to qualify for the tournament.
It's no easy feat. Former world number five Eugenie Bouchard has already failed in her quest, retiring hurt against Dalila Jakupovic on Wednesday.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/05/23/2341032-48719410-2560-1440.jpg)
French Open qualifying: Bouchard retires
Jay Clarke is the only Brit left in the hunt, with the 19-year-old set to next face temperamental Aussie Bernard Tomic. Compatriots Liam Broady and Katie Boulter have already fallen.
CAN SERENA DO IT?
Following a tumultuous birth, when she needed emergency surgery after suffering a blood clot, just being back on the court is a remarkable achievement.
When Williams returned to the Tour in March, playing in Indian Wells and Miami, she looked short of fitness and form, going out in the third round and first round respectively.
Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, admits she returned too soon but the pair have been working hard together ever since.
At 36, Williams is chasing the record of 24 grand slam title wins, held by Australia's Margaret Court, and if she lines up at Roland Garros, she will be fitter, fresh and dangerous.
"Serena will play the French Open to win it," said Eurosport pundit Mouratoglou.
Can she do it? Serena can achieve anything -- after being her coach for six years, I'm even more sure of that statement.
It was the arrival of Mouratoglou as Williams' coach in 2012 that sparked the most successful period of her career.
Having been knocked out of the French Open in the first round, Williams turned to the Frenchman to revive her fortunes; they have won 10 grand slam titles together since.
With organisers sticking strictly to the world rankings, Williams, currently ranked 453, will be unseeded in Paris, which means she could face any of the highest-ranked players in the first or second round.
But even with her lack of match practice, if anyone can hit the ground running it is Williams, the winner there in 2002, 2013 and 2015.
"I hear when she was down in Palm Beach she was training very hard with her physical trainer (Mackie Shilstone)," seven-times French Open champion Chris Evert, an analyst for broadcaster ESPN, told Reuters.
"At the end of the day she knows how to play tennis. It's more about fitness, getting the cardio up, the first step.
We know she will have the fire, the fight and the heart and the drive but you don't know about seven matches in a row to keep that level up. That's what it's going to take.
Jim Courier, who twice won the title at Roland Garros, also believes Serena can defy logic.
"One can never count Serena out if she's in a draw," said Courier.
She lacks match play and will be vulnerable in the early rounds as she seeks form and confidence. If she does reach the second week she will be hard to stop.
Last weekend, Williams was a guest at the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
But she was quickly back on court at Roland Garros the following day, smashing groundstrokes with Mouratoglou.
She obviously comes back to win and the wait has been long, so she will probably start Roland Garros with a mix of stress because she will want to do well and excitement because playing those events is the reason why she made such huge efforts to come back.
No one will want to see their name alongside that of the 23-times grand slam champion in Thursday's draw.
Eurosport Player gives fans live access to all the action LIVE through 16 Bonus Channels. Eurosport will broadcast LIVE coverage of the French Open, from the qualifying round which takes place 21-25, right through to the men’s final on 10 June.
Last season, Spanish champion Rafael Nadal won the tournament for the tenth time after an intense fight with Stan Wawrinka. On the women side, Jelena Ostapenko won the title for the first time in her career.
Last season, Spanish champion Rafael Nadal won the tournament for the tenth time after an intense fight with Stan Wawrinka. On the women side, Jelena Ostapenko won the title for the first time in her career.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement