Five Questions Surrounding The French Open

Serena Williams (Getty Images)

The French Open officially kicked off this Sunday and there are many questions lingering fans will be looking to have answered.

5. What will happen on the women’s side?

It is an understatement to say that the WTA has been unpredictable this season. With top seeds dropping like flies in major tournaments and unseeded players going deep in tournaments, it is difficult to know who will step up on the women’s side. Serena is of course, Serena and will more than likely bring her A but as for the rest of the WTA, who knows?

4. How will Americans perform at Roland Garros?

As discussed in a previous article, Americans, specifically the men, haven’t fared too well at the French. Will this year be any different? Jack Sock declared his love for the clay and has shown an adept ability to playing on the red clay, making the round of 16 last year. Will Jack be able to make a run? John Isner and his massive serve is a threat on any surface, will he be able to make the second week? On the women’s side Madison Keys surprised everyone by making the finals at Rome. Keys lost to Serena a the Italian Open but tennis experts and fans wonder if Keys can keep up the momentum in Paris and make a deep run. What about Sloane Stephens? Sloane has captured three titles this year but has still been wildly inconsistent, losing in early rounds in four tournaments. Can Sloane start to regain her consistent grand slam for, she was known for in the previous seasons. Again Serena is Serena but can other Americans join her and prove they can play on the red dirt at Roland Garros?

3. Will Nadal reclaim his French Open crown?

After having a mediocre 2015 and starting slow this season, it finally appears that Rafa has found his game again. With titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, the “King of Clay”, is putting naysayers on hold and proving that he is ready to take home his tenth French Open. Rafa will undoubtedly have to go through Novak Djokovic if he plans on winning the French and that matchup still remains a mystery for Rafa. It Is clear that Rafa is closing the gap after making Novak have to go through to tight sets in order to take home the win. Nadal and Djokovic are on a collision course to meet in the semis, assuming both win all their matches and whoever wins will undoubtedly be the favorite to take home the trophy (although Murray will have something to say about that). Novak has dominated Nadal the past couple of years but it’s hard to count out a nine-time champion.

2. Will Serena tie Steffi’s 22 grand slams?

Without question Serena has been the player to beat on the WTA. In 2015, Serena was able to take home three of the four majors before losing to Roberta Vinci at the U.S. Open and ending her bid to capture the elusive calendar grand slam. Serena was unable to tie Steffi at this year’s Australian Open, losing to German Angelique Kerber in three sets but it seems it’s only a matter of time before she gets the job done. Serena’s participation on the tour has been sparse this year, with her only entering four tournaments. As a result, there were doubts about her motivation and health. But after her win at the Italian Open, in Rome, it is clear Serena is ready to compete at the French and tie Steffi’s record. The only question remaining is, is who is going to try and stop her?

1. Will Djokovic capture the French and complete the career grand slam?

Djokovic has been the definition of consistent the past year and a half. He has won numerous titles on multiple surfaces, crushing his peers in route to these titles. Yet the French Open remains one of the trophies missing on Djokovic’s wall. Last year Novak was one match shy from winning the French, will he get the job done this year. Despite Djokovic’s recent lost to world number two, Andy Murray, it appears that he is on course to holding that trophy the second Sunday of the tournament.  But with the resurgence of a determined Nadal and the emergence of Murray as a bona fide clay court champion, Novak will have many obstacles he will have to overcome. Will Novak be up to the challenge? That remains to be seen.

With so much history on the line, the French Open should be intriguing to watch this year. So tennis fans need to only put up their feet and enjoy the show.

Tickets to the French Open are available from TiqIQ.com, though the get-in rate exceeds $100 for most matches.  Also, cheap hotels in Paris, as well as flights to Paris, France are available from our friends over at Hipmunk. Tennis fans from across the globe will be able to attend one of the sport’s biggest stages.