Women’s players to watch

Women’s players to watch at the French Open, which begins today in Paris:SERENA WILLIAMS RANKED 1 AGE 31 COUNTRY United States 2013 MATCH RECORD 36-2 2013 SINGLES TITLES 5 CAREER SINGLES TITLES 51 MAJOR TITLES 15: French Open (2002), Wimbledon (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012), U.S. Open (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012), Australian Open (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010) TOPSPIN On a career-high 24-match winning streak that includes titles on European red clay at Madrid and Rome. … Also unbeaten on clay heading to the French Open a year ago, when she was stunned in the first round by 111thranked Virginie Razzano of France. That is Williams’ only first-round loss in 50 career Grand Slam tournaments. … Since that match, Williams is 67-3, a run that includes championships at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the London Olympics and the season-ending WTA Championships.MARIA SHARAPOVA RANKED 2 AGE 26 COUNTRY Russia 2013 MATCH RECORD 30-4 2013 SINGLES TITLES 2 CAREER SINGLES TITLES 29 MAJOR TITLES 4: French Open (2012), Wimbledon (2004), U.S. Open (2006), Australian Open (2008) TOPSPIN The defending champion’s .816 career winning percentage on clay courts (93-21 record) is the highest among active players, according to the WTA. Not too shabby for someone who once likened her problems moving on the surface to a “cow on ice.” … Completed a career Grand Slam by beating Sara Errani in last year’s final at Roland Garros; also her first major championship since right shoulder surgery in 2010. … 11-1 on clay this season, including title at Stuttgart.

VICTORIA AZARENKA RANKED 3 AGE 23 COUNTRY Belarus 2013 MATCH RECORD 22-2 2013 SINGLES TITLES 2 CAREER SINGLES TITLES 16 MAJOR TITLES 2: Australian Open (2012, 2013) TOPSPIN French Open is the only major tournament where she hasn’t reached at least the semifinals. … Has made great strides on clay, going 33-9 over the past three seasons, after starting her career 36-24 on the slow surface. … Beat Williams on a hard court in final at Doha, lost to her on a clay court in final at Rome. … Was ranked and seeded No. 1 in Paris last year. … When she won the Australian Open in 2011, was the fourth consecutive first-time women’s Grand Slam champion. Since then, though, Azarenka, Williams and Sharapova have added their major totals.

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA RANKED 4 AGE 24 COUNTRY Poland 2013 MATCH RECORD 24-7 2013 SINGLES TITLES 2 CAREER SINGLES TITLES 12 MAJOR TITLES 0 TOPSPIN Pulled out of clay-court tuneup in Brussels, citing right shoulder injury. … Comes to Roland Garros in something of a slump, with three losses in a span of four matches. … Never made it past the fourth round of the French Open, but her patient game of spins and angles could eventually help her break through.LI NA RANKED 6 AGE 31 COUNTRY China 2013 MATCH RECORD 21-6 2013 SINGLES TITLES 1 CAREER SINGLES TITLES 7 MAJOR TITLES 1: French Open (2011) TOPSPIN At 2011 French Open, became the first tennis player from China to win a Grand Slam singles championship. … Also has reached two other Grand Slam finals, both at the Australian Open, in 2011 and this year. … Her run to the title match in Melbourne in January marked by far her best showing at a major tournament since her championship in Paris; she hadn’t made it past the fourth round anywhere in between, including one first-round loss and two second-round exits.

ANA IVANOVIC RANKED 14 AGE 25 COUNTRY Serbia 2013 MATCH RECORD 18-10 2013 SINGLES TITLES 0 CAREER SINGLES TITLES 11 MAJOR TITLES 1: French Open (2008) TOPSPIN Hasn’t been past the fourth round the past four years at Roland Garros, but showed she can play well in Paris by reaching two consecutive French Open finals (runner-up in 2007, champion in 2008). … Her .781 winning percentage at the French Open (25-7 record) is significantly better than her .691 mark at the other Grand Slam tournaments.

SLOANE STEPHENS RANKED 17 AGE 20 COUNTRY United States 2013 MATCH RECORD 15-12 2013 SINGLES TITLES 0 CAREER SINGLES TITLES 0 MAJOR TITLES 0 TOPSPIN One of only two women (Azarenka is the other) to beat Williams this season, upsetting the injured American in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January before losing to Azarenka in the semifinals. … Despite success in Paris a year ago, has not played particularly well on red clay this season. Trying to get her game in gear on the surface at a tuneup tournament in Brussels this week, Stephens lost her second match.