[economex]

Caroline Wozniacki DEN (1) v Kimiko Date-Krumm JPN
Junri Namigata JPN v Q WOZNIAK, Aleksandra CAN
Christina McHale USA v Sara Errani ITA
Shuai Zhang CHN v Daniela Hantuchova SVK (28)

Shahar Peer ISR (19) v Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP
Rebecca Marino CAN v Kateryna Bondarenko UKR
Aravane Rezai FRA v Irina-Camelia Begu ROU
Magdalena Rybarikova SVK v Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (13)

Marion Bartoli FRA (11) v Anna Tatishvili GEO
Agnes Szavay HUN v Q GOVORTSOVA, Olga BLR
Kirsten Flipkens BEL v Lucie Safarova CZE
Mathilde Johansson FRA v Julia Goerges GER (17)

Tsvetana Pironkova BUL (32) v WC Casey Dellacqua AUS
Gisela Dulko ARG v WC Irina Falconi USA
Alla Kudryavtseva RUS v Simona Halep ROU
Iveta Benesova CZE v Samantha Stosur AUS (8)


Vera Zvonareva RUS (3) v Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP
Q LISICKI, Sabine GER v Akgul Amanmuradova UZB
Angelique Kerber GER v Edina Gallovits-Hall ROU
Anastasia Rodionova AUS v Nadia Petrova RUS (26)

Alisa Kleybanova RUS (23) v Q LLAGOSTERA VIVES, Nuria ESP
Renata Voracova CZE v Alize Cornet FRA
Sybille Bammer AUT v Q BARTHEL, Mona GER
Yaroslava Shvedova KAZ v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS (14)

Jelena Jankovic SRB (10) v Alona Bondarenko UKR
Jelena Dokic AUS v Vera Dushevina RUS
Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP v Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA
Varvara Lepchenko USA v Flavia Pennetta ITA (18)

Shuai Peng CHN (29) v Tamira Paszek AUT
WC Olivia Sanchez FRA v Polona Hercog SLO
Anne Keothavong GBR v Vesna Dolonts RUS
Melanie Oudin USA v Francesca Schiavone ITA (5)

BOTTOM HALF

Na Li CHN (6) v Barbora Zahlavova Strycova CZE
Q SOLER-ESPINOSA, Silvia ESP v Elena Vesnina RUS
Patty Schnyder SUI v Sorana Cirstea ROU
Laura Pous-Tio ESP v Alexandra Dulgheru ROU (27)

Dominika Cibulkova SVK (22) v Vania King USA
Elena Baltacha GBR v Q STEPHENS, Sloane USA
Sandra Zahlavova CZE v Jie Zheng CHN
Greta Arn HUN v Petra Kvitova CZE (9)

Kaia Kanepi EST (16) v Sofia Arvidsson SWE
WC Stephanie Foretz Gacon FRA v Q WATSON, Heather GBR
Ekaterina Makarova RUS v Romina Oprandi ITA
Johanna Larsson SWE v Ana Ivanovic SRB (20)

Roberta Vinci ITA (30) v Alberta Brianti ITA
Evgeniya Rodina RUS v WC Iryna Bremond FRA
WC Pauline Parmentier FRA v Ksenia Pervak RUS
Andrea Hlavackova CZE v Victoria Azarenka BLR (4)


Maria Sharapova RUS (7) v Mirjana Lucic CRO
Zuzana Ondraskova CZE v WC Caroline Garcia FRA
Jill Craybas USA v Q DANIILIDOU, Eleni GRE
Q CHAN, Yung-Jan TPE v Klara Zakopalova CZE (31)

Yanina Wickmayer BEL (21) v Monica Niculescu ROU
WC Kristina Mladenovic FRA v Ayumi Morita JPN
Sania Mirza IND v Kristina Barrois GER
Patricia Mayr-Achleitner AUT v Agnieszka Radwanska POL (12)


Andrea Petkovic GER (15) v Bojana Jovanovski SRB
Anastasija Sevastova LAT v Lucie Hradecka CZE
Q DENTONI, Corinna ITA v A. Medina Garrigues ESP
Virginie Razzano FRA v Jarmila Gajdosova AUS (24)

Maria Kirilenko RUS (25) v Coco Vandeweghe USA
Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR v Chanelle Scheepers RSA
Q ERAKOVIC, Marina NZL v Arantxa Rus NED
Anastasiya Yakimova BLR v Kim Clijsters BEL (2)

[economex]

Very excited about possible Maria/Kim, Caro/Julia (if JG gets past Sam), and Petra/Vika quarterfinals.

[fgjhfgjh]

Kimiko doesn't get many kind draws these days

Anyways. Of course, Goerges in the same part of the draw as Caro! Not the ideal road for Francesca to defend her title (what draw would be....) and a reasonably kind pair of starters for Kim, up until she runs into Maria S.

All in all about as open as expected.

[economex]

and a reasonably kind pair of starters for Kim, up until she runs into Maria S.

I was genuinely hoping for the type of draw that allowed her to play her way into contention, Oplo, and this draw is perfect in that respect. Increases in challenge (as it should), various types of games. If Kim is to contend, she really could not ask for a better path, because it is challenging, albeit not impossible for someone with her gifts.

All in all about as open as expected.

I think this is a near ideal draw given the state of today's WTA. No one can be said to have it easy.

[Nosmas]

a reasonably kind pair of starters for Kim, up until she runs into Maria S.

?

Maria K R3 maybe, then Petko, then Maria S. QF?

[Nosmas]

Ugh... I don't know why I want JJ to succeed. It would be easier if I could just give up on her. Anybody has the potential to beat her.

Sveta too.

[fgjhfgjh]

?

Maria K R3 maybe, then Petko, then Maria S. QF?

Yakimova, Rus and Kirilenko were what I had in mind, so I already went beyond an actual pair The first two really shouldn't be a problem and Makiri hasn't won consecutive matches this year, so not holding my breath there. Petko and Pova are very different challenges, of course

[hapasaparaz]

Reasonably well balanced draw, though I think more of the likely winners (the bigger hitters) are in the bottom half.

[addisonnicogel]

Reasonably well balanced draw, though I think more of the likely winners (the bigger hitters) are in the bottom half.

Wozniacki could not asked for a better draw than the one received.

[estelle]

Yeah, MaKiri has been a mess this year, sadly.

I also want Jelena to succeed, mostly because I think she has the talent to win a Slam, and it's a pity that she hasn't yet. I actually think the 1st quarter and the 4th quarters are the toughest, though the draw is surprisingly balanced. I expect the winner to come from one of those two quarters, though I am rooting for Schiavone to repeat, or Jankovic.

This should be another good fitness test for Azarenka, I have doubts about her ability to stay healthy through a whole two week period of grueling matches. Though her draw is fairly easy (compared to say, Wozniacki)

[Finkevannon]

Wozniacki could not asked for a better draw than the one received.

Though she probably wishes Goerges found her way into another quarter.

[hapasaparaz]

Wozniacki could not asked for a better draw than the one received.

Yep, probably. Though even still, I look at her draw and think that there's a good chance that someone in that 1/4 will take her out.

[Tam04xa]

JJ- A Bond first round? I know A-Bond hasn't been her best self lately, but what an awesome time for her to come back into her own JJ- and SP-torturing self!

[economex]

The Vera/Franny section of the draw might have just gotten a tad more interesting as well, since "future Top 5 Shuai Peng" just took out Vera in straights at Brussels.

[arerrurrY]

Goerges
Zvonareva (actually, I've no idea about this one!)
Kvitova
Sharapova

Then Maria wins the whole thing.

Honestly, the only prediction I feel safe making is that I will jinx one of my favorite players at some point by saying something stupid on here, like perhaps these predictions!

[electmobile]

I'm giving very serious thought to skipping the women's pool.

[economex]

Maria trying to take some post-Rome presuure off her sometimes achy sholders?


Sharapova picks out Clijsters as French Open favorite

(Reuters) - Maria Sharapova's victory in Rome last week has marked her out as a serious title contender at the French Open but the Russian former world number one says Kim Clijsters is the player to beat.

Belgian Clijsters was a major doubt for the tournament after injuring her ankle while stumbling at her cousin's wedding two months ago but has recovered in the nick of time.

"It's always difficult to not play for a few weeks and come back at a grand slam being your first tournament," the 24-year-old Sharapova, who could possibly have to beat Clijsters in the quarter-finals if she is to win the only slam to elude her, told reporters at Roland Garros after Friday's draw.

"But, you know, she has a tremendous amount of experience behind her. I don't think this is the first time that she's come back after having a long lay-off.

"She's been able to do really well when she's taken time off, so you can never count her out. It might take her a few matches to get into form. That's normal when you haven't played for a while. But she's a great champion, she's won the last couple of grand slams, is number two in the world.

"She's certainly the one to beat here."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...74J42G20110520

[sEe]

A somewhat balanced women's draw? I is shocked.

No concussions, Vika.

[Hsmrcahr]

A somewhat balanced women's draw? I is shocked.

No concussions, Vika.

Considering the state of the wta these days, all draws will appear balanced.

[Intockatt]

Well, at least we know Schiavone won't lose in the first round.