The Australian Open is over, which puts the French Open next on the list of Grand Slam events in 2016. It’s still a long way to the two-week tournament at Stade Roland Garros, but we’ve got an early eye on Paris with our way-too-early French Open predictions.
Maria Sharapova Will Win The Women’s Tournament
One of the noticeable characteristics of the French Open over the past half-decade is that either Maria Sharapova or Serena Williams have won this tournament. That should make it easy for our French Open picks, right? Not since 2011 has another player walked away with a trophy on the red clay of France in the late spring. Sharapova was not expected to be a good player on clay a decade ago. The term fashionably used to describe Sharapova’s movement and comfort on clay? “A cow on ice.” Sharapova was an awkward mover on clay earlier in her career. However, Sharapova has always worked hard. She might get hit off the court, but she is never lazy. She made a very concerted attempt to get better on clay, and in 2012, she won the French Open by beating Sara Errani in the 2012 final.
Since then, Sharapova and Serena have traded titles in Paris. In 2013, Serena beat Sharapova in the final, and then in 2014, Sharapova beat Simona Halep. Returning the favor yet again the following year, Serena defeated Lucie Safarova to win another championship in 2015. It is true that Serena should be the favorite, but she won this title last year, and that could apply some extra pressure to her. Sharapova can come off the radar and, in a more relaxed fashion, make a rally – especially if she’s in the other half of the bracket. In our way-too-early French Open picks, we’ve got Sharapova winning it all.
Serena Williams Will Lose In The Fourth Round
This is a reaction not to Serena’s loss at the Australian Open, but to the reality that even when she won three Grand Slam events last year, she was often pushed before the quarterfinals. She had to overcome a set deficit in the first week of the 2015 French Open, and she was pushed deep into a third set at Wimbledon in the third round last year as well. Serena was actually a steadier player in Australia before her inadequate final against Angelique Kerber. However, history shows us that most of the time, Serena will struggle in the first week of a major – even if she wins the match or the tournament. She’s great, and she could win it all, but we’re making some bold predictions here. She’s still very vulnerable – especially at Roland Garros, which is her weakest Grand Slam – so don’t be surprised if she’s sent home packing earlier than expected.
Angelique Kerber Will Not Make The Semifinals
One of the central stories of the next French Open is Angelique Kerber, the newly-minted Grand Slam champion after her win in the Australian Open. She’s going to have a big spotlight on her as the second Grand Slam of the year begins after flying under the radar through the first.
In winning the Australian Open, Kerber showed the kind of ability which only rarely surfaced in Grand Slam events the previous few years. Recall that she didn’t even make the fourth round of a Grand Slam last year, but that sharply changed in Australia. It will be a popular pick to take her to at least make the semifinals at the French Open, not only because of her ability to play defense on clay, a slower surface, but because of fresh confidence. However, Kerber will now be a target. Her maturity should carry her through the first week, but in the quarterfinals, she will probably face a very strong player who will be out to prove a point. Remember that she had a relatively easy path to the quarters in the Australian Open as she didn’t face a ranked player through her first four matches. That should change at Roland Garros and it will contribute to her undoing.
