Russians Traditionally Underestimated in Paris
This season’s second Grand Slam tournament, Roland Garros starts today. Exactly Roland Garros gave rise to the Russian breakthrough in 2004. Like a year earlier, the experts are skeptical when it comes to the Russian players.
The strength of women participants is even more representative than it was a year ago. Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, who missed last year’s championship, take part in the tournament. Although not in the sound health, Kim Clijsters have all chances for shooting, while Justine Henin-Hardenne is the tournament’s favorite, judging by the expert opinion and bookmakers quotes.
Only Serena Williams, who declined to take part because of the leg injury, could be viewed as the serious loss of the French Open.
On the eve of any tournament, the existing champion is traditionally in the limelight. The experts don’t rate high the chances of Anastasia Myskina of Russia to keep the title. Myskina has not fared quite well on clay this year. She lost to the No. 107 Julia Shruff in Berlin three weeks ago. I don’t simply enjoy playing, Myskina said them.
Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova is scored number one among Russians. She is believed to advance smoothly to the quarter final where she may meet Justine Henin-Hardenne.
The clay is the most complicated covering for me, but I like playing on it, Sharapova said, adding, on clay, she could see better her own errors to be corrected.
As to the men ranking, the absolute frontrunner is Roger Federer of Switzerland. For Federer, Roland Garros is vital, as it is the only Grand Slam tournament yet not conquered by him.
As to the Russian tennis players, they were not particularly fortunate with the drawing. Marat Safin, Mikhail Yuzhny and Nikolay Davydenko will all fight in one and the same group.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 23, 2005
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