France, Serena, Sharapova, Sock lead 2015 French Open midterm grades

Jon Wertheim gives his 2015 French Open midterm grades for the best and worst performances, led by Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jack Sock, the ATP's Big Four and more.

Author:
Jon Wertheim
Publish date:
May 30, 2015

PARIS – Halfway through the 2015 French Open, the second major of the year, let’s hand out some grades. While two of the top five women's seeds in Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki have dropped out, Maria Sharapova looks to raise the trophy for the third time, while Petra Kvitova and Serena Williams are still in the game to deny the defending champ her triumph. And while a matchup with Novak Djokovic looms in the quarterfinals, Rafael Nadal must first go through American Jack Sock to claim his tenth French Open title, as Roger Federer and Andy Murray still remain in the running as well.

As usual, all marks will be distributed on a belle curve. As of Saturday evening local time, here are our midterm grades.

A

The Short List of contenders

The men’s Big Four, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are all still in contention. Most have hardly had to sweat.

Day 7 recap: Serena rallies to beat Azarenka, top men dominate

France

The French Open, indeed. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet, Jeremy Chardy and Gilles Simon are still alive, as is Alize Cornet on the women’s side.

Switzerland

Apart from Federer and Wawrinka, Timea Bacsinszky makes it to Week Two. And Martina Hingis is the odds on favorite to take doubles.

Jack Sock

He’s been saying all spring how much he likes clay. And he put his mouth where forehand is, blazing to round four. Now a date with Nadal awaits.

Ryan Shane and Jamie Loeb

The Virginia junior and UNC sophomore won the his and hers NCAA singles titles. Virginia and Vanderbilt won the team titles.

• MORE FRENCH OPEN: Sock becomes youngest U.S. man since Sampras to make French Open R4

A-minus

Mirjana Lucic Baroni

One of these heartstring stories that tennis furnishes from time-to-time, perhaps to balance the narratives of injury and burnout. MLB played tremendously in her win against Halep, simply hitting the third seed off the court. Then she lost a winnable match against Cornet when she tightened in the third set.

Thanasi Kokkanakis

The Aussie teen plays with poise that belies this age. Two strong wins to start—one a heroic five-setter over Bernie Tomic—and a nothing-to-be-ashamed-of effort against Djokovic.

• MORE FRENCH OPEN: France's top men look to make run at home

B

The Sunday start

It’s a boon for the fans, who have an extra weekend day to attend. It’s a boon for the tournament, which can sell an extra session, as well as an extra day of weekend television. The players—not unreasonably—resent the imposition. The easy solution: keep the session, but let it be reflected in the prize money.

Steve Johnson

A terrific win his first match, a five-set grind-a-thon against seeded Guillermo Garcia Lopez. An expected win in his second match against Sergiy Stakhovsky, no one’s clay court specialist. But Johnson simply couldn't get his teeth into his third rounder against Stan Wawrinka.

Gael Monfils

It wouldn’t be week one of the French Open without LeMonf playing a thoroughly unnecessary and thoroughly enthralling five-setter. This year, we got two.

• DAILY DATA VIZ: The ups and downs of flashy Frenchman Monfils

French crowds

Sharapova's strong first and second serves show her mental toughness

They get a bad rap for their fickle fandom. (Both Serena and Sharapova have already been booed.) But they know their tennis. The folks at home see empty seats in the regions. (A problem that plagues most tournaments.) What they miss: the masses crowding the practice courts and wreathing the outer courts, watching up-and-comers.

Alexa Glatch

All credit to the Californienne for her for qualifying effort. This has echoes of Brian Baker’s comeback story from several years ago. But Glatch let a winnable match—leading to an encounter against Serena Williams—slip by in round one, against Anna-Lena Friedsam.

Americans

With Sock leading the charge, there have been some individual bright spots for the states. But, overall, a modest first week.

B-minus

Sexy picks

Dominic Thiem? Karolina Pliskova? Anna Schmiedlova? David Goffin? Each showed glimpses of potential. But none remain in the draw.

C

Genie Bouchard

This is to sophomore slumps what the FIFA is to a p.r. challenge. A top player a year ago, the Canadian has lost eight of nine matches and is—as she gamely admits—lost right now.

Women’s seeds

Celebrities at the French Open

2016

Leonardo DiCaprio

2016

Tim Roth and his wife Nikki Butler

2015

Hugh Grant

2014

Prince

2014

Rindoff/Charriau/French Select/Getty Images

Benedict Cumberbatch

2014

Owen Wilson

2013

Leonardo DiCaprio and Lukas Haas

2013

Forest Whitaker

2013

Redfoo and SkyBlu of LMFAO

2011

Bradley Cooper

2011

Salma Hayek

2011

Bar Refaeli

2011

Pippa Middleton

2010

Jay-Z and Beyonce

2010

Brooklyn Decker

2010

Grace Jones

2009

Eva Longoria and Tony Parker

2009

140603170713-ayden-christensen-rachel-bilson-single-image-cut.jpg — Marc Ausset-Lacroix/FilmMagic

Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson

2009

Anna Wintour

2007

Antonio Banderas

2007

Don Johnson

2006

Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn

2006

Kristin Scott Thomas

2006

Jean Reno

2006

Bec Cartwright

2006

Serge Benhamou/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Boris Yeltsin

2005

Danni Minogue

2002

Matthew Perry

2001

Sean Connery

2001

Bill Clinton

1987

Jerry Lewis

Including Bouchard, five of the top 10 don't get out of week one. Pick a side: instability at the top versus depth of field.

Grigor Dimitrov

Another tournament, another triumph of style over substance. Nifty strokes and a crisp outfit. But the No. 10 seed couldn't even muster a set in his first match.

French Open security

Given the history—both at this event and in Paris this year— how does anyone run onto the court un-accosted (and un-Lacosted)?

Fashion

With Stan Wawrinka's shorts leading the way, it has not been a strong event for attire.

Roland Garros expansion

In the most underreported story of Week One, the Paris city council rejected the expansion plans, an unmistakable blow to the tournament. As a colleague at L’Equipe put it: “Especially in Paris, here’s a big difference between drawing up fancy [architectural] renderings and actually getting construction approved.”

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