Women’s Singles Preview

Four different women have got their hands on the French Open title since Justine Henin’s mini domination from 2005-2007 and a new champion could well be crowned again in 2012 in what looks a wide open Women’s Championship at Roland Garros.

Multi-Slam winner Serena Williams is the bookmakers favourite heading into the tournament but the jury will once again be out on the American who has failed to win a major competition since lifting the Australian open title back in 2010.

Williams triumphed on the Paris clay all the way back in 2002 but the surface has not been so kind to the 30-year-old over the past decade.

Serena still clearly packs a massive punch in her game but it is for that reason that her style is far better suited to hard courts or the grass of Wimbledon.

At 11/4, she is feared by the bookies but it looks a tall order for her to regain her title ten years on – especially as she is now approaching the latter stages of her illustrious career.

Many backers will be focusing on current world no.1 Victoria Azarenka and the Belarusian star will be buoyant after romping to her maiden Grand Slam success at the Australian Open earlier in the year.

A twice French Open quarter-finalist, Azarenka is no slouch on the orange surface and her game can only improve at 22 years of age.

Azarenka has a huge chance of justifying her odds of 4/1 but she will have to be on top form to deny Maria Sharapova from getting her hands on the trophy. The Russian is without a Grand Slam victory since 2008 however she returned to her near best last year with a series of near misses on the big stage.

Sharapova preceded a Wimbledon final defeat by reaching the last four in Paris and she has an excellent chance of going one better in 2012 after blitzing her way to success in Rome last time out.

It is hard to believe that Sharapova is still only 25 and she definitely still retains all the right attributes to win a major tournament again.

Her best odds of 7/1 look very tempting and backers can always fulfil the option of laying the bet should Sharapova reach the showpiece on June 9.

There is also some real value further down the list and 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone cannot be ignored at a whopping 125/1. Granted the Italian has been way below her best for some months and is undeniably moving into the veteran phase of her career at 31.

Nevertheless, a couple of confidence boosting wins in the early rounds could revive her magic and she would have to be respected as a force at the venue which has served her extremely well down the years.

Li Na and Petra Kvitova are two top ten stars at double figure odds that could make the frame, whilst home grown talent Marion Bartoli looks overpriced at 80/1. Former world no.1 Caroline Wozniacki can be backed at around 33/1 but the Dane’s time at the top looks well behind her and the same can also be said for Venus Williams who goes into the tournament as an unfancied 50/1 chance.

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04/06/2012     © Frixo 2026