Its time for the dirt to fly...Roland Garros draw analysis and prediction

The second Grand Slam is almost here and its time for the players to grind and slide their ways to the title. The draw is nearly wide open with the retirement of Clay Queen Justine Henin, the Williamses both out of action and Kim Clijsters under a huge injury cloud that has seen her not step foot on clay once this year to play a proper match. And it would appear we are looking at first time Roland Garros Champion with Svetlana Kuznetsova, Francesca Schiavone and Ana Ivanovic, the only former champions in the draw, struggle for form on clay and thus the likely hood of their results being repeated are abolished...practically.

First Quarter.

Of course as it has now become a regular theme at the slams lately the top seed Caroline Wozniacki will be searching for her first Grand Slam title and to be honest, She is going to have to keep waiting. Her ride is pretty cruzy to the 4th round just the possibility of a few encounters with dirt balers (Wozniak and Martinez Sanches) she will probably play Kuznetsova in the 4th round, and that will come down to which Kuztnestova decides to show up. Her quarter final opponent will be Görges and we all know what happens when Wozniacki and Görges play on clay during the 2011 season :) Julia will be challenged by Bartoli in the 3rd round but will easily get to the QF with a routine win over Dulko or Stosur.

Predicted QF - Caroline Wozniacki vs Julia Görges

Second Quarter

This quarter is a little more interesting with Zvonerava leading the way. She will have a juicy 2nd round match up with Sabine Lisicki but will most likely advance to the 4th round where she could play Kleybanova, Cornet, Pavlyuchenkova or Shvedova, where any one could win but Ill tip Vera to take the spot in the QF where again she could play anyone. Jelena Jankovic has a first round match with A. Bondarenko and she always struggles with Bondarenko's and then could play the dangerous Jelena Dokic in the 2nd round and the possibly "dirt baler" Matek-Sands in the 3rd round! I want to say Dokic will make to the 4th round but don't think I can, I don't know who will be playing her in the 4th round but I think Peng will make to the 4th round, or maybe, just maybe Francesca Schiavone will be able to make to the 4th round but either Peng or Schiavone will be advancing to the QF

Predicted QF - Vera Zvonerava vs Francesca Schiavone*

3rd Quarter

Now we get to the bottom half of the draw and by far my favourite quarter. This draw promises the most interesting 3rd round match ups with Li to play Dulgheru, Kvitova to play Cibulkova and Ivaonvic (if she can conquer Makarova) to play Kanepi. And now let me say this, cover your eyes if your an Ana fan, she will stay in the top 20 but she will probably never win another Grand Slam, she will be good for a few QFs maybe a SF or maybe a Final but her winning time has past, Ill be happy for you to prove me wrong Ana...prove me wrong! (Sorry if that sounds to harsh, I do like Ana, but I just can't see her lifting another slam trophy) Okay now your back. For some reason in the quarter I see Kvitova and Li playing such a high intense 4th round match, after intense 3 setter 3rd round match it doesn't matter which one of them wins, they won't get past Azarenka. Yes Azarenka elbow and all, including the tantrums, the kicks and the drama will advance to the QF in straight sets.

Predicted QF - Petra Kvitova** vs Victoria Azarenka

4th Quarter

The fourth and final quarter, how exciting. Rome champion Maria Sharapova, Aggie Radwanska, Sania Mirza, Yanina Wickmayer, Andrea Petkovic, Jarmilla Gajdosova, Anabel M-G, Maria Kirilenko and Kim Clijsters. Whhhhhhhhy? Why would they put so many of my favourites into one quarter! Why would the French Tennis Federation do this to me? Well this going to be challenging to predict. Firstly I would like to say that I respect Virginie Razzano's bravery, don't know if you know what happened but that's not easy, my thoughts go out to her and her family and wish she could have won the whole damn thing, if she wasn't playing Jarka in the 1st round. Back to the draw now, Maria Sharapova should advance to the 4th round easily where she will play Wickmayer I think, or Radwanska, I don't know based on current form I will have to go with...um, well...errr, ummmm Wick- no umm Rawan- well ummmm no Wi- umm Wickmayer. Yes Maria Sharapova will player her 4th round match where she will play Yanina Wickmayer. And the Jarka and Petko will probably play a pretty intense 3rd round match which is even more impossible to pick a winner from and then down below them is potentially injurd Kim Clijsters. This is a challenge, I am not sure I can bring my self to predict the QF but here it goes...

Predicted QF - Maria Sharapova vs Jarmilla Gajdosova***

QF's Prediction

Caroline Wozniacki vs Julia GörgesWozniacki has struggled with Görges all year, and the hard hitting German has been the delightful surprise of the clay court season. Expect a big match from the German who will head into the match fearless which should bring her third victory over the world number one for the season and advance to her first slam semi



Vera Zvonerava vs Francesca Schiavone*
Clay may not be her favourite surface but Zvonerava is a tough competitor and if her A-game decides to show up she will be far to strong for the 2010 champion, Francesca is very capable of winning but I see Vera walking away victorious in this match.

Petra Kvitova** vs Victoria Azarenka
Kvitova may have been the victor in Madrid but on the Parisian clay it will be a different story, Azarenka will be hungry for revenge and her first slam semi. Azarenka the inform player of the Spring will bring her ball bashing and storm into the semi final.

Maria Sharapova vs Jarmilla Gajdosova***
There is not a doubt in my mind Sharapova will this match, weather she is playing Jarmilla, Andrea or Kim. Maria has found her feet on clay and proved in 2007 she can go deep on clay making the semi here. Winning Rome and hungry for her career Grand Slam, Maria will win here with no real issues.

SF's Prediction

Julia Görges vs Vera Zvonerava
Julia will bring everything she has to this match and will be bursting with confidence after once again downing Caroline Wozniacki. Görges playing better on clay that Zvonerava will taker her into her first even final in a major. It wont be an easy battle but it will be a battle that Görges emerges victorious from.

Victoria Azarenka vs Maria Sharapova
Azarenka will be here to avenge her loss via retirement to Sharapova in Rome just last week. Azarenka has dominated Sharapova when she has been at her best. most recently winning Miami over the Russian 6-1 6-4 also she defeated Sharapova only losing 5 games as well in Stanford final last year. Azarenka should win this match with out too many problems.

Runner-Up
Julia Görges
Winner
Victoria Azarenka

Azarenka will be super eager to win her maiden grand slam singles title, and she will be just as eager to win Belarus' first grand slam singles title**** again it won't be routine and both players will give it their all, its should be a great final, with Azarenka victorious after 3 tough sets.

*Francesca Schiavone - I know I said Peng earlier, don't argue my logic
**Petra Kvitova could also mean Cibulkova, Li or Dulgheru
***Jarka could also mean Kim or Petko
****I will have to check that stat out too
PS on a previous post you were talking about sources for draws well - here's mine!