French Open Players To Watch

Rafael Nadal

Ranked: 1 Age: 24 (Turns 25 June 3) 2011 Match Record: 36-6 2011 Singles Titles: 2 Career Singles Titles: 45 Major Titles: 9 - French Open ('05, '06, '07, '08, '10), Wimbledon ('08, '10), U.S. Open ('10), Australian Open ('09) Last 5 French Opens: '10-Won Championship, '09-Lost in 4th Round, '08-W, '07-W, '06-W Topspin: Owns career record of 38-1 at French Open; only loss was in fourth round in 2009 to Robin Soderling. ... Can tie Bjorn Borg's record of six French Open championships this year. ... After winning three consecutive Grand Slam titles, lost in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in January.

Caroline Wozniacki

Ranked: 1 Age: 20 2011 Match Record: 34-7 (entering Brussels) 2011 Singles Titles: 3 Career Singles Titles: 15 Major Titles: 0 - Best: F (at U.S. Open in '09) Last 5 French Opens: '10-Lost in Quarterfinals, '09-Lost in 3rd Round, '08-3rd, '07-1st, '06-Did Not Play Topspin: Still looking for first Grand Slam title; lost in semifinals at each of last two major tournaments. ... Patient, mistake-free game can frustrate opponents. But does she lack the putaway shot?

Novak Djokovic

Ranked: 2 Age: 23 (Turns 24 on Sunday) 2011 Match Record: 37-0 2011 Singles Titles: 7 Career Singles Titles: 25 Major Titles: 2 - Australian Open ('08, '11) Last 5 French Opens: '10-QF, '09-3rd, '08-SF, '07-SF, '06-QF Topspin: His 37-0 record so far in 2011 is the best start to a season on the men's tour since John McEnroe began 42-0 in 1984. ... Is 7-0 against Nadal and Roger Federer this season, including victories over Nadal in clay-court finals at Madrid and Rome in May. ... 13-0 against top-10 players; entered this season with a career mark of 39-50 vs. top 10.

Kim Clijsters

Ranked: 2 Age: 27 2011 Match Record: 21-4 2011 Singles Titles: 1 Career Singles Titles: 41 Major Titles: 4 - U.S. Open ('05, '09, '10), Australian Open ('11) Last 5 French Opens: '10-DNP, '09-DNP, '08-DNP, '07-DNP, '06-SF Topspin: Won the past two Grand Slam tournaments, U.S. Open and Australian Open. ... Decided to enter French Open despite recent wrist, shoulder and ankle injuries. Said she'll play in Paris with her right ankle taped after injuring it at her cousin's wedding. ... Hasn't played at Roland Garros since 2006, but did reach the 2001, 2003 finals there.

Roger Federer

Ranked: 3 Age: 29 2011 Match Record: 28-7 2011 Singles Titles: 1 Career Singles Titles: 67 Major Titles: 16 - French Open ('09), Wimbledon ('03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '09), U.S. Open ('04, '05, '06, '07, '08), Australian Open ('04, '06, '07, '10) Last 5 French Opens: '10-QF, '09-W, '08-F, '07-F, '06-F Topspin: Owns record 16 Grand Slam singles titles but is now in longest stretch without one since he won his first at Wimbledon in 2003. ... Record streak of reaching semifinals at 23 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments ended at French Open last year with quarterfinal loss to Robin Soderling. ... Followed that with quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon, then semifinal exits at U.S. Open and Australian Open.

Vera Zvonareva

Ranked: 3 Age: 26 2011 Match Record: 23-8 (entering Brussels) 2011 Singles Titles: 1 Career Singles Titles: 11 Major Titles: 0 - Best: F (at Wimbledon in '10, U.S. Open in '10) Last 5 French Opens: '10-2nd, '09-DNP, '08-4th, '07-DNP, '06-1st Topspin: Breakthrough that began in 2010 has seen her reach at least the semifinals at each of the past three Grand Slam tournaments, and the finals at two of them. ... Had poor start to clay circuit with early losses at Stuttgart and Madrid.

Andy Murray

Ranked: 4 Age: 24 2011 Match Record: 13-7 2011 Singles Titles: 0 Career Singles Titles: 16 Major Titles: 0 - Best: F (at U.S. Open in '08, Australian Open in '10, '11) Last 5 French Opens: '10-4th, '09-QF, '08-'3rd, '07-Did Not Play, '06-1st Topspin: There hasn't been a British male champion at any Grand Slam tennis tournament since 1936. ... Is 0-3 in major finals. ... Went through a four-match losing streak this season.

Li Na

Ranked: 6 Age: 29 2011 Match Record: 19-8 2011 Singles Titles: 1 Career Singles Titles: 4 Major Titles: 0 - Best: F (at Australian Open in '11) Last 5 French Opens: '10-3rd, '09-4th, '08-DNP, '07-3rd, '06-3rd Topspin: At Australian Open in January, became first tennis player from China to reach a Grand Slam final. ... After that run, lost opening matches at four consecutive tournaments.

Robin Soderling

Ranked: 5 Age: 26 2011 Match Record: 25-7 2011 Singles Titles: 3 Career Singles Titles: 9 Major Titles: Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, at French Open in '09, '10 Last 5 French Opens: '10-F, '09-F, '08-3rd, '07-1st, '06-1st Topspin: Had a 3-5 record the first five years he played at Roland Garros; is 12-2 since. ... Upset Nadal (fourth round) in 2009 French Open, Federer (quarterfinals) in 2010, en route to his only two major finals.

Maria Sharapova

Ranked: 7 Age: 24 2011 Match Record: 21-6 2011 Singles Titles: 1 Career Singles Titles: 23 Major Titles: 3 - Wimbledon ('04), U.S. Open ('06), Australian Open ('08) Last 5 French Opens: '10-3rd, '09-QF, '08-4th, '07-SF, '06-4th Topspin: After winning Italian Open title on clay for first title this season, moved up to her highest ranking since November 2008. ... French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament she hasn't won - or even reached the final. ... Has been a semifinalist once, quarterfinalist three other times at Roland Garros.

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