http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/newsroom/?ContentID=470 May 27, 2006 Roland Garros Preview PARIS, France - Although she has been one of the most successful players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour so far this season, it will be a long, tough road to title defense for Justine Henin-Hardenne this fortnight on the slow, red clay of Roland Garros, as the Belgian will have to fend off inspired opponents from all directions. Henin-Hardenne, seeded No.5 at the year's second Grand Slam, has been an extremely consistent competitor so far this season, reaching the semifinals or better at six of seven events in compiling a 27-5 overall record. Although she has captured two titles already this year, neither of them have come on clay, a stark contrast to her 17-match, three-tournament clay court streak heading into Roland Garros last year. However, she has won Roland Garros in two of the last three years (2003, 2005), and history does have a way of repeating itself come crunch time at the majors. Touted by many as one of the most dangerous players in this year's draw is No.3 seed Nadia Petrova, who is unbeaten on clay on the Tour this season. Petrova's 15-0 season record on the dirt includes consecutive title runs at Amelia Island, Charleston and Berlin (where she beat Henin-Hardenne in the final). The Russian is also a two-time Roland Garros semifinalist (2003, 2005), so this tournament holds special importance for her. She is in fact projected to face Henin-Hardenne in the quarterfinals, making the third quarter arguably the toughest of them all. The other quarters are also tough, including top seed Amelie Mauresmo's. Ranked and seeded No.1 for the first time at a major, and no less in front of her adoring fans at Roland Garros, Mauresmo looks to finally break through here. In her 11 career appearances, her best results are two quarterfinal finishes, and last year she was ousted in the first week in one of the fortnight's biggest upsets. This year she could face some more resistance in her section, including No.7 seed Patty Schnyder, No.11 seed Venus Williams, and an intriguing opening round match against American Meghann Shaughnessy, who just last week won her first title in three years at Rabat. But with the Australian Open title under her belt, Mauresmo's time may finally come. Second seed Kim Clijsters, twice a runner-up at Roland Garros, will have to play her best tennis to get out of her quarter of the draw. The Belgian, who was ranked No.1 for a short period of time earlier in the season, could face either No.6 seed Elena Dementieva or No.12 seed Martina Hingis in the round of eight, both of those players being reigning Tier I titlists (Dementieva at Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Hingis just over a week ago at Rome) as well as former Roland Garros finalists themselves (Dementieva in 2004, Hingis in 1997 and 1999). Two players who dominated the American hardcourt swing earlier this season highlight the remaining quarter, namely No.4 seed Maria Sharapova and No.8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. Sharapova, winner at Indian Wells, is a two-time Roland Garros quarterfinalist. Kuznetsova, winner at Miami, has reached the fourth round in both of the last two years, but has lost to the eventual champion each time, incidentally holding match point in both losses. Prior to the projected all-Russian quarterfinal, Sharapova might have to face No.14 seed and recent Rome finalist Dinara Safina, while Kuznetsova may have to deal with one of two Italian clay court overachievers, namely No.9 seed Francesca Schiavone and No.17 seed Flavia Pennetta. Other names to look for in the draw include 2004 Roland Garros champion Anastasia Myskina, seeded No.10, who lurks in Henin-Hardenne's section of the draw, and German rising star Anna-Lena Groenefeld, seeded No.13, who lurks in Petrova's section. With so many names in the mix, Roland Garros is sure to provide some of the most memorable matches women's tennis has had to offer in recent memory. -- 第三区还挺硬的...两大热门+04年冠军 不过记得去年Henin的签运也不好 但还是拿冠军 今年加油 一路杀杀杀.... --

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