The 2017 French Open, on the WTA side, looks like a free-for-all. No one knows what’s going to happen… unless unpredictable results are the expectation. It’s easy to say that on a general level, but picking the actual winners of the year’s second Grand Slam tournament seems like an impossible task.
There’s no Serena Williams or Victoria Azarenka. There’s no Maria Sharapova, either, after an injury and a refusal by the French Tennis Federation to offer a wild card. Other players who have a chance to win the event suffered injuries in Rome, just before coming to Paris. Health will be a major factor over the next two weeks at Roland Garros.
Remember that the French Open has always been Serena’s weakest, so it’s typically been a toss up. We’ve seen all sorts of players come out of nowhere to win it and then never achieve anything else again. For example, Ana Ivanovic or even last year’s champ, Garbine Muguruza, who has fallen off the map since her grand slam win. This tournament is going to be wide open.
The competition in the 128-player main draw begins on Sunday, May 28, in Paris.
Event Details
Event: French Open
Category: ITF (International Tennis Federation) Grand Slam
Date: May 28 – June 11, 2017
Location: Stade Roland Garros – Paris, France
With a prize money allotment of roughly 16.8 million Euros, the money at the French Open is better than ever. Tennis has put a lot of money in the pot at the four Grand Slam tournaments over the past 15 years. Other tournaments have experienced a measure of growth, but the Slams have dramatically increased the ability of tennis pros to make a very good living. When players win three matches at a major tournament, they make six figures in American dollars, which gives them a level of income greater than what most ordinary people make in a year. Everyone knows how big an opportunity this is for so many pros. Players who have not won much of anything in terms of prize money can finally give themselves a financial foundation and pay more for training, support staff, and other resources not every tennis player enjoys.
Points
Champion – 2,000 points
Runner-up – 1,300
Semifinal – 780
Quarterfinal – 430
Round of 16 – 240
Round of 32 – 130
Round of 64 – 70
Former Champions and Results (5 Years)
Year Champion Runner-up Score
2016 – Garbine Muguruza def. Serena Williams – 7-5, 6-4
2015 – Serena Williams def. Lucie Safarova – 6-3. 6-7, 6-2
2014 – Maria Sharapova def. Simona Halep – 6-4, 6-7, 6-4
2013 – Serena Williams def. Maria Sharapova – 6-4, 6-4
2012 – Maria Sharapova def. Sara Errani – 6-3, 6-2
Player Info:
The absences of Serena, Vika and Maria are big. What also matters is that No. 1 seed Angelique Kerber is somewhat injured and playing terribly. She does not figure to last very long. Petra Kvitova surprisingly attended this tournament ahead of schedule on her rehabilitation project. She will be happy if she can win one or two matches at this tournament and prepare for Wimbledon.
As for who can win the tournament, the in-form player is Simona Halep, but her injury in the Rome final has thrown her pursuit into question. Garbine Muguruza is the defending champion, but she also got injured in Rome (in the semifinals). If she heals, she could defend her title with the elites of the game not in the draw.
Kiki Bertens, a 2016 semifinalist, and Kristina Mladenovic, who came on strong during the clay season, both have a chance to go deep in Paris. Elina Svitolina won in Rome and will be someone every WTA player must take seriously. Every section of the draw seems wide open. It’s just a matter of which player will get hot and ride a wave of confidence en route to the title.
Stade Roland Garros
The old and fabled facility was built in 1928 after its namesake, a pioneering French aviator and World War I hero. The dozens of red-clay courts are highlighted by Court Philippe Chatrier, which holds over 14,000 people; Court Suzanne Lenglen, which seats over 10,000; and a third show court to replace the old “Bullring,” which had its last ride last year. The French Open, being a clay tournament, does not use the Hawkeye replay system, separating itself from the other three Grand Slam events.
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