SUNDAY IN PARIS BY CHERYL JONES

Written by: Staff on 24th May 2015

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

SUNDAY IN PARIS BY CHERYL JONES

epa04764829 Simona Halep of Romania in action against Evgeniya Rodina of Russia during their first round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 24 May 2015. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT |

The WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) keeps track of who’s who in the world of women’s professional tennis. Each week the rankings shuffle a bit, depending on the wins and losses of the previous week. Serena Williams is the number one ranked woman this year, as she has been off and on since 2002. Following her closely, are a group of women who seem to slide up and down the rankings like a rollercoaster ride at a cheap carnival.

Simona Halep won the Roland Garros Junior Girls title in 2008. Then, it seemed as if she slipped into a self-proclaimed tennis void as she languished in the doldrums of the rankings until 2010. That year, in July, she managed to break into the top 100. And from that point forward, she has made a successful climb up that ladder. She received the 2013 most improved player recognition from the WTA and now, at number three in the world, she has moved within striking distance of the absolute pinnacle of women’s tennis.

Simona Halep of Romania in action against Evgeniya Rodina of Russia during their first round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 24 May 2015. EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT

Making her sixth main draw appearance in Paris, she is aiming to better her stellar 2014 performance where she lost to Maria Sharapova in the women’s final, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. The three set match was a testimony to both young women’s fitness and stamina. She was the opening act on Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday morning. Success has been the name of her game for the past two years. She took home the title at Indian Wells earlier this year when she defeated Jelena Jankovic. The twenty-three year old is breaking new ground for Romanian players. She became the first Romanian to qualify for the WTA Finals in more than fifteen years. (She lost in the final to Serena Williams.) Her number three ranking is the highest any Romanian woman has ever achieved. She also has reached the semifinals or better at six out of eight tournaments she has played this year. Everything is coming up Romanian Roses for her and it is a certainty that she has plans to have that continue.

Having made it to the final last year, it is imperative that her winning ways continue, if only to retain her high ranking. She knows it, and she is a young woman who understands that in order to retain her elevated position in the rankings, she must win matches. Today she said, “I’m stronger, I think, mentally, and I’m stronger, as well, on court. I feel stronger – I have stronger body, and the game is, I have improved a lot in my game. Serve is better, so I feel more confident now with my game. But still, you know it’s about the match, about the opponent. So I have to be focused and to train every day hard and, you know, to be ready when I go on court, because every match is important, and every match is difficult because everyone is playing good tennis at this level.” Focused she was. She eliminated Russian, Evgenia Rodina from the tournament. The score was close – (7-5, 6-4) – but it belied the reality of the situation. Halep seemed sure of herself, even though she said she had a bit of nerves going out on the court where she last year she was runner-up. She appears to be in perfect physical condition to continue her winning ways. As always, only time will tell.

Halep’s wasn’t the only match played. Sunday in Paris, specifically at Roland Garros, there were many anxious people who wanted to watch top-notch tennis. As spendy as the tickets were, everyone got their money’s worth.

A total of 18 active women players have reached a Grand Slam singles final. Among those players, Serena Williams has won the most titles at 19; and she has appeared in the most finals. She wasn’t scheduled to play today, but Tuesday or Wednesday, her time will come and she will know if her recent fitness will be enough to move through the draw that has in the last few years been a futile quest. She went out last year in the second round. Reigning champ, Maria Sharapova will see Estonian player, Kaia Kanepi across the net. It should be a slam-dunk for her to move on, as Kanepi is ranked 48 and Sharapova is sitting pretty with her number two ranking. Ana Ivanovic’s defeated Yaroslava Shvedova who is presently ranked 59. Ivanovic was the titlist in Paris in 2008 when she defeated Dinara Safina 6-4,6-3. She has had an up and down career since then as she has changed coaches multiple times and contended with injuries that have kept her out of the spotlight. Perhaps it will be a step forward with her appearance in Paris today.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the USA in action during her match against Maria Sharapova of Russia on day two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 14 January 2014. EPA/MARK DADSWELL AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Tomorrow a gaggle of Americans take to the courts. Madison Brengle will try to defeat Samantha Stosur, the 31 year-old Australian who has slipped to 27th place on the WTA rankings roster. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, the perennial thrift-shop dresser, will be trying her luck against Halep’s countrywoman, Irina-Camelia Begu. Mattek-Sands has been up and down in the rankings, but currently an injury has left her at a stagnant 163. Alison Riske will face Sara Errani, an Italian who has slipped a bit in the rankings, but is still in the top twenty, holding fast at 15.

Newcomers from the US have increased the American presence at major tournaments of late, and of course, there is, as always, Venus Williams. She is ranked 16 presently, and tomorrow, she faces Sloan Stephens whose ranking has tumbled with her erratic play and that ranking has fallen to 40. It should be an interesting match, but the 34 year-old Williams may not be able to keep up with the lightening fast Stephens.

Sunday, the grounds teemed with fans, young and old. The youngsters were excited to get a chance to see their idols and many of them proudly held their autographed maxi-sized tennis balls that will likely be finding a permanent place in their room, just for autographs of their tennis heroes and heroines. Tomorrow promises a full docket of play and the stands will be filled with doctors and lawyers playing hooky from their assigned tasks. It will be a Monday that won’t be a dreaded end to a weekend, but a continuation of Sunday’s magnificent tennis!

Topics: Cheryl Jones, French Open Tennis, Roland Garros 2015, Tennis News

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May 24, 2015 at 1:22 pm

SUNDAY IN PARIS BY CHERYL JONES – http://t.co/HKAul9ED9T #Paris #FrenchOpenTennis #RolandGarros #tennis @rolandgarros #FrenchOpen