NEWFANZONE FRENCH OPEN PREVIEW

The second Grand slam of the year takes center stage in France in a couple of hours away. Newfanzone.com takes a look at the chances of the big boys,possible upsets and how it will all go down I’m Roland Garros.

Novak Djokovic, photo credit David Jones
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidcjones/8325891736/in/photolist-dFJnxw-d9a1ys-7wiCww-oLHews-p2aXN1-p4cRkK-p2aVBC-d99anW-6s2NgT-dsVq2f-dsVd5D-9DrroJ-egS23A-egKS3H-egRBku-egKPFx-egKN22-egKHD4-egR9cq-egKj4F-8swdaw-8swcQG-8swaiE-8st5mV-8sw7fC-8st4rZ-8sw6qd-8sw5gE-8st2ga-8st1MX-8st1gB-ajKhAu-7iSNdT-7iSMYX-7iSMGZ-7iSMkX-d7LdZ5-egTSsb-egN5zB-egTPJ7-egTL6G-egTGyY-egTFxu-egMTVp-egMSvr-egMR6i-egMPPB-egMzS8-egMyNz-egMh6a

MEN’S PREVIEW

The man of the moment on clay Novak Djokovic goes into Roland Garros as the favorite to win it for the first time in his career.

This is the Serb French Open title to lose as he is playing at a different level now defeating players like Nadal, Federer, Murray and Nishikori in the process.

He is on a 22 match unbeaten streak and 10-0 on clay. If form is anything to go by ,then Novak Djokovic will take home French Open title.

King of clay Rafael Nadal won’t have a shortage of challengers this year as he has not won any European ATP clay court title in the lead up to the French Open for the first time in ten years.

Nadal defeated Djokovic in last year pulsating final but this time he doesn’t look like he might make it into Roland Garros final but never bet against the Madrid born star.

Roger Federer is another player to always look out for in big competitions such as Grand Slam tournaments. The second seed almost won the Rome Masters before succumbing to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the final. The world No.2 will not be meeting either of Djokovic and Nadal before the final which means the Swiss Master might get to the final once again and might nick the second French Open title of his career.

Newly Married British No. 1 Andy Murray also looks favorite for the Roland Garros title as the Scott has performed well in the Masters competition leading into the competition in Paris. Murray has already defeated earlier this month in Madrid and could defeat any one who underestimate him on clay.

Newfanzone.com Player to watch for 2015 Kei Nishikori will also pose some threat in Paris. The Japanese who won the Barcelona Open can take any of the big boys on and could just get to play in the Final of the French Open.

Other Exciting Players to watch in France include; Stanislas Wawrinka, Thomas Berdych, Gael Monfils, Grigor Dimitrov and David Ferrer.

NOTABLE ABSENTEE

Sixth seed Milos Raonic will miss the French Open tournament due to a lingering foot injury.

Andy Murray, photo credit Kate
https://www.flickr.com/photos/43555660@N00/7381761806/in/photolist-cfisBh-cccBHE-9Q9NNi-9QcEx7-9QcENf-9Z5qp7-e54daR-mPmFn8-mRgT1h-cccD2E-dbsMQE-e5aJoq-cccCX9-bUQost-6cksF6-dfA9oT-bUQn8r-bUQnFK-bUQoUa-e559ne-bUQoxc-dbyNhi-nAZ51B-8kCqj3-6zTgmb-nAYhfu-6zPqXv-e6oK1H-9WDUCT-pLz9Z8-cccBu7-e5aMGS-mPnSnV-9sA5m8-9sA4AX-6zSRpj-9QcE4h-dbyR8b-dbyRum-efDT4N-eeKzKC-mPo7qn-ct8Rfw-9Z2u7K-9Z2tsz-9Z5q29-ct8Ww1-cccDgf-e51KYK-mjz5Pk

NOTABLE FIRST ROUND DRAWS

* Andy Murray vs Qualifier

* Novak Djokovic vs Jarkko Nieminen

* Richard Gasquet vs Qualifier

* Qualifier vs Bernard Tomic

* Tim Smyczek vs Kevin Anderson

* Grigor Dimitrov vs Jack Sock

* Quentin Halys vs Rafael Nadal

* Andreas Seppi vs John Isner

* Kei Nishikori vs Paul-Henri Mathieu

* Jo-Wilfred Tsonga vs Qualifier

* Qualifier vs Fernando Verdasco

* Luckas Lacko vs David Ferrer

* Qualifier vs Tomas Berdych

* Stanislas Wawrinka vs Marsel Ilhan

* Qualifier vs Roger Federer

* Marin Cilic vs Robin Haase

French Open Trophys

STATISTICS (MALE)

PRIZE MONEY : €1,250,000

TROPHY : Coupe des Mouquetaires

MOST TITLES (AMATEUR ERA) : Max Decugis (8)

MOST TITLES (OPEN ERA) : RAFAEL NADAL (9)

SURFACE : Clay

DEFENDING CHAMPION: RAFAEL NADAL.

Nadal Serves, Day one of the 2009 Davis Cup final: Spain vs. The Czech Republic. photo credit Beth
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mirsasha/4178978349/in/photolist-7nhmER-7nxFAF-7nqsFG-7nqbVy-69vykE-7nELyQ-7naxUk-byazFD-9dvWKH-bkfGV9-8aVP3M-dwnuys-dwnoW5-dwnp5S-4peBrh-FFgSP-fSQ6KA-fSPJYo-5pNLKX-5pNH1g-dwntHS-dwnprL-aEWLDV-dwns3f-aF1Nid-aF1zYs-aF1Adj-aEWGYz-aEX23t-aEWQtF-aEWVUc-aEWTS2-aF1TBU-aF1Dt7-aEWZBM-aF1PyA-aEX1TD-aF1GZJ-aF1UnY-dwnpCN-dwgTVr-a3foGh-661jkM-661vjn-6617c4-661mPZ-661tbB-661vPa-665KUo-6617U4

NEWFANZONE VERDICT

Rafael Nadal goes into this competition as the defending champion but looking at the form of all the players going into Roland Garros Novak Djokovic has to be the favorite.

WOMEN’S PREVIEW

Serena Williams serves Vs Tsvetana Pironkova at the French Open 2007, at Stade Roland Garros in Paris
photo credit: Derek Holtham
https://www.flickr.com/photos/derekholtham/523847049/in/photolist-NhRtF-eGrd3J-81WbwY-eGrjjS-4Lc8bn-drteQS-eGkjnP-eGjZft-oWyTfL-eGkdGB-rkxzq8-c9umc7-4Mymeq-ngBMZA-cawotL-eSkLmD-9Qkrhv-zS8aE-pLKxfW-8CaeH4-6sRpSL-7r1Uic-nhhUiZ-4LBzEz-91o6bF-4LrHTx-9QcQnb-gN9mxY-82GJdE-p4SDeQ-rCgi9L-o8YtLV-cshe1y-57tTz4-4MvQXr-4wZSeD-eGkfPr-eGrrsY-eGk1qB-eGkgpH-eGkd1i-eGrpUC-eGk5KM-eGki9R-eGk46v-eGkesB-eGk7ei-eGrjSA-eGraDh-eGk4ia

Serena Williams looks like the woman to beat in every Grand Slam competition as she will go in as favorite in Roland Garros once again.

The American top seed who pulled out of the Italian Open will look to still tell the world that she is the best when it comes to women tennis.

Serena will want to reach the magical 20 milestone but she will need to start well in Paris as she was defeated last year in the early rounds by Garbine Muguruza.

Maria Sharapova is in good form and might well retain her French Open title. The Russian who lost in the Australian Open final to Serena will once again hope the American suffers a shock exit in the hand of one of the exciting youngsters.

As defending champion Sharapova cannot earn any fresh ranking knowing that an early exit might see her drop from her No.2 spot in the world.

Petra Kvitova’s form in Madrid might mean that she is ready to fight when it comes to the Grand Slam for this year. The defending Wimbledon champion form in Paris does not look encouraging as her beat ever finish has been the semis in 2012.

Kvitova will have to bring her Wimbledon form back if she wants to at least get to the semi- final of Roland Garros.

Newfanzone.com player to watch for 2015 Simona Halep continues to improve as she has won three competitions earlier on this year but the world No.3 has been disappointing in the clay ATP competitions leading to the French Open. Simona Halep got to the final of this same competition last year and she might yet again just go a notch higher by winning the coveted prize.

Caroline Wozniacki is another player that has experienced a bit of resurgence since last year that got her to the US Open final. The former world No.1 might have lost to Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka in the build up to Roland Garros but underestimate her at your peril!

Other exciting names to look out for in Paris include; Carla Suarez Navarro, Eugenie Bouchard, Ekaterina Makarova, Agnieska Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznestova.

NOTABLE FIRST ROUND DRAWS

Sara Errani
photo credit: si.robi
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sirobi/14456955920/in/photolist-o2vFjG-nYN9BZ-fMrRWK-ffZQh8-d5rVbS-d5rT53-d5rSGy-ocfbTr-fMrRir-fMJrnY-fMJrgA-fMrRAM-fMJrFY-fMrRH2-pjw1H7-eEDC7N-qYBrch-nSYLFm-dfAMWp-ffZR3i-c7iqeA-oqzMTx-o969XV-o969JY-q3oGLq-qGWxfK-9UFVYs-nc2Lov-nc3tfc-nterXX-fm4uGa-ffZRAB-9UD5CB-p549eb-p553Gp-qGeJSH-pqmhy8-c7ip6w-9UFWmS-d5rUwh-nc2YpK-ntyLxh-ey3JNu-qGeJVZ-nvi7bK-p549hh-pmy6yc-oZ1sCd-oGxsYR-ntfoKo

* Serena Williams vs Qualifier

*Maria Teresa Torro-Flor vs Victoria Azarenka

* Sloane Stephens vs Venus Williams

* Petra Kvitova vs Marina Erakovic

* Alison Riske vs Sara Errani

* Kiki Bertens vs Svetlana Kuznestova

* Kristina Mladenovic vs Eugenie Bouchard

* Agnieszka Radwanska vs Annika Beck

* Kaia Kanepi vs Maria Sharapova

* Evgeniya Rosina vs Simona Halep

* Carla Suarez Navarro vs Monica Niculescu.

French Open Trophys

STATISTICS (FEMALE)

PRIZE MONEY : €1,120,000

TROPHY: Coupe Suzanne Lenglen

MOST TROPHIES (AMATEUR ERA): Adine Robson (5)

MOST TROPHIES ( OPEN ERA): Chris Evert (7)

SURFACE: Clay

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Maria Sharapova.

Maria Sharapova photo credit upi.com

NEWFANZONE VERDICT

Serena Williams has won the Australian Open this year but it seems she might not get to win Roland Garros as Maria Sharapova looks sharp and primed to defend her title in Paris.

SERENA STRIKES SEVEN IN MIAMI

The going was getting tough, but Serena Williams got going against Li Na in a dream final to win her 59th WTA title – and a record seventh Sony Open Tennis crown.

The going was getting tough – her opponent was crushing winners off both wings and stormed out to a 5-2 lead in the first set – but Serena Williams was just getting going, and after an hour and 59 minutes she had a 75 61 win over Li Na and a record seventh Sony Open Tennis crown.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Miami right on wtatennis.com!

In a dream championship between the Top 2 players in the world, it was actually the No.2-ranked Li who came out stronger, her massive groundstrokes on song as she stormed out to a 5-2 lead.

But Williams wasn’t done yet – she wasn’t even done with the set. After closing the gap to 5-4, she saved a set point in the next game with a down-the-line backhand winner from behind the baseline and off her back foot, and after a series of massive returns she would sneak that first set out, 7-5.

Li put up a valiant fight in the second set, but by then Williams just had too much momentum – the American ended up winning 11 of the last 12 games of the match to close it out and get the title.

Williams already had the record for most Sony Open Tennis titles coming in but now increases the lead with her seventh (Steffi Graf had the previous record with five). She’s one of only four players to win the same WTA event seven or more times (along with Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Graf).

Additionally, the Sony Open Tennis continues to be Williams’ best tournament: she has reached more finals – nine – and won more titles – seven – at this tournament than at any other WTA tournament.

Li, who was looking for her 10th WTA title, was the first on the mic at the trophy ceremony.

“I have to say well done to Serena – you had a very good two weeks here,” Li said.

The Chinese was then asked about the upcoming clay court season, and what she’s focusing on now.

“Keeping healthy is the most important thing for me, and just trying to do the best I can,” she said, before remembering one more thank you for the day. “Of course I want to thank my team as well!”

Trophy ceremony emcee Mary Joe Fernandez then asked if she wanted to thank her husband.

“No, coach first! Husband is later, who cares,” Li, who has become renowned for her sense of humor about her husband, replied. “First my coach, and then my physio. Thanks a lot to both of them.”

Williams, who hadn’t won a title since the first week of the season, was next on the mic.

“It was a really important victory, especially playing Li Na, who has been playing so well,” Williams said. “She started out so well – I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I just need to hang in here.’ Then I heard some fans trying to pull me through – if it hadn’t been for you guys I wouldn’t be standing here right now.”

Fernandez asked Williams how she managed to turn the match around from 5-2 down in the first set.

“Really, at that moment, I felt like I had nothing to lose and I was able to relax,” she said.

“And whenever I relax, I enjoy myself.”

Source: WTA

ROAD TO SINGAPORE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES

Chris Evert and Eugenie Bouchard helped officially launch the Road To Singapore and announce new elements that will turn the WTA Championships into an exciting sports entertainment experience.

The Australian Open may have come to an end, but there’s something else that’s just starting to gather steam – the Road To Singapore, which officially launched in Singapore on Monday.

WTA Championships Ambassador Chris Evert and Australian Open semifinalist Eugenie Bouchard were both on hand to officially launch the Road To Singapore, the year-long journey to the WTA Championships where the stars of the WTA compete across 54 tournaments and 33 countries.

Numerous new elements about this year’s WTA Championships that will elevate the fan experience were unveiled on Monday. First of all, it will expand into a 10-day sports entertainment event of competiton, exhibitions and activities for fans around the world. There will be seven days of competition this year as opposed to six, the doubles will be expanded to eight teams, and there will be a WTA Rising Stars Exhibition and WTA Legends Exhibition during the opening Fan Festival weekend.

The WTA has opened an office in Singapore, which will be part of the Singapore Sports Hub – the event venue. With the WTA and a Singaporean team living and working year-round in Singapore, a number of programs that will connect the WTA Championships with the people of Singapore will also be launched. Coaching workshops and a new WTA Future Stars program are also coming.

Also, the digital platforms for the WTA Championships were officially unveiled – the newly-launched official website (www.wtachampionships.com) and the official Facebook and Twitter pages. Through the dedicated platforms for the Road To Singapore, fans will enjoy unparalleled access to their favorite players’ season-long journey, including enhanced editorial coverage throughout all platforms.

And that’s not all. Monday was an absolutely packed day for Evert and Bouchard, who helped promote the Road To Singapore and WTA Championships throughout the day, including an inspirational forum with local kids (read about it here) and an Ice Kachang dessert-making session (read more here).

“We are excited to announce new elements of the WTA Championships that will engage the fans of women’s tennis with the WTA stars and turn our year-end event into a premier sports entertainment property,” Stacey Allaster, Chairman & CEO of the WTA, said. “The WTA is committed to the long term development of the sports community in Singapore and through numerous programs we’ve put in place, we look forward to growing our fan base and empowering people of the region through sports.”

“Asia continues to grow as a destination for global sports properties, with Singapore an important hub given its world class infrastructure and ability to host and execute to the highest level,” Andrew Georgiou, CEO of World Sport Group, commented. “The investment in the Singapore Sports Hub creates an opportunity not only to host global events such as this, but to do so in a way that offers an engaging experience for corporates, but also visitors as well as Singaporeans of all backgrounds.

“The WTA Championships Singapore will have something for everyone.”

: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3639820/title/road-to-singapore-officially-launches#sthash.X0GcvR1V.dpuf