Roland Garros and the potential shift in the rankings

With Venus more than likely to regain the #1 ranking at the end of Roland Garros, the interest turns to the next two positions. What makes the race for #2 and #3 interesting is that there can be a real change in terms of who occupies the leading positions on the tour in two weeks time. Entering Roland Garros, there is a mathematical chance for any of the top seven seeds to be ranked in the top three upon completion of the tournament. The likelihood is the Williams-Williams-Capriati triumvirate once again, however former #1 Monica Seles stands a chance of entering the top 3 for the first time in almost two years. Monica has a mathematical chance to reach #1 and it’s fantastic that the opportunity is there. She could at least reach the #2 position which she could achieve by possibly reaching the semi finals with a number of factors panning out in the draw (including relatively early losses by Jennifer or Serena). Kim Clijsters, a former world #3, has a great chance of getting into the top three again and will need to reach the quarter finals in order to have any chance of it (she will likely have to progress to the final again though to achieve this). Justine Henin and Jelena Dokic also have mathematical chances to achieve a career high ranking but will have to complete an unlikely scenario of winning the tournament with most of the higher ranked players falling early. Given the form at the top, that is an unlikely scenario.

A lot of speculation can be made about the rankings at this stage, but who is likely to reach the final stages of the tournament. The form players of the clay court season, Justine Henin and Serena Williams, have the unfortunate task of possibly having to play each other in the quarter finals to continue their great run during the last few weeks. Given their vast improvements and impressive play, they are quite likely to meet each other in this encounter. Capriati is almost a shoe-in for a semi final berth and I feel that she will fight Jelena Dokic in a tight battle for a right to play in the semis. I think Clijsters and Mauresmo will reach the third quarter final, while Seles and Venus Williams will reach the fourth quarter final. It can’t be said that these predictions are off the

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