Based on form alone, Maria Sharapova enters the French Open as the favorite to her career Grand Slam, a surprising turn of events for the Miami-based Russian, whose relationship with the red dust was not always a happy finish.
Her most recent title in Rome, where it means to win beat 2011 French Open champion Li Na in the final with their stunning victory over world number one linked Victoria Azarenka in Stuttgart a few weeks earlier, it is 1.12 for the sand and a swing slide into Paris full of joie de vivre.
It became clear, however, that a stain is added in its record of American Serena Williams in Madrid blue clay.
Thirteen-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who, like Sharapova has more endured than their fair share of injuries over the years, enjoyed an encouraging year so far and recently went on a 17-win streak match, including the title in Madrid.
Alarm bells rang when she moved from her semi-final against Li Na in Rome because of a knee niggle, but it was assumed that more of a precaution ahead of Paris rather than anything to be too serious.
Williams, who was a year ago, still absent from the tour after a career-threatening foot injury and health problems, is back in fifth place in the world, targeting a second French Open crown, 10 years after her first.
Sharapova, whose efforts on sand often have a Formula One push cars around in the rain on the wrong tires, stands still win at Roland Garros, though sheer stubbornness has seen how to achieve them both semi-finals - the last of which came 12 months ago, if she was also tipped to win.
But only 25, she says patience, instead of her trademark power is the key to their form on Earth, on which she once described their movement as "like a cow on ice".
"I have improved and most of it comes to the physical aspect and patience," she said after wearing down Li on a heavy, clinging court in rainy Rome.
"It's not about changing my game, but relying on the things that I have improved, such as lubricants and are definitely on."
Williams, who counts Paris as her favorite city, and wrote on Twitter that they should be renamed "Chantel" while at Roland Garros, will prefer the terms hot and fast.
The 30-year-old has no rivals, not even Sharapova when it comes to aggressive, front-foot-pong is coming - a fact from a 8-2 winning record over the Russian born.
Never short of confidence at the Slams, she said: "I feel better this time around.
"I feel I can play on any surface, and this is the right setting for me. I'm enjoying my tennis. This is where I belong and what I'm best at."
Her most recent title in Rome, where it means to win beat 2011 French Open champion Li Na in the final with their stunning victory over world number one linked Victoria Azarenka in Stuttgart a few weeks earlier, it is 1.12 for the sand and a swing slide into Paris full of joie de vivre.
It became clear, however, that a stain is added in its record of American Serena Williams in Madrid blue clay.
Thirteen-time Grand Slam champion Williams, who, like Sharapova has more endured than their fair share of injuries over the years, enjoyed an encouraging year so far and recently went on a 17-win streak match, including the title in Madrid.Alarm bells rang when she moved from her semi-final against Li Na in Rome because of a knee niggle, but it was assumed that more of a precaution ahead of Paris rather than anything to be too serious.
Williams, who was a year ago, still absent from the tour after a career-threatening foot injury and health problems, is back in fifth place in the world, targeting a second French Open crown, 10 years after her first.
Sharapova, whose efforts on sand often have a Formula One push cars around in the rain on the wrong tires, stands still win at Roland Garros, though sheer stubbornness has seen how to achieve them both semi-finals - the last of which came 12 months ago, if she was also tipped to win.
But only 25, she says patience, instead of her trademark power is the key to their form on Earth, on which she once described their movement as "like a cow on ice".
"I have improved and most of it comes to the physical aspect and patience," she said after wearing down Li on a heavy, clinging court in rainy Rome.
"It's not about changing my game, but relying on the things that I have improved, such as lubricants and are definitely on."
CHANTEL
Williams, who counts Paris as her favorite city, and wrote on Twitter that they should be renamed "Chantel" while at Roland Garros, will prefer the terms hot and fast.
The 30-year-old has no rivals, not even Sharapova when it comes to aggressive, front-foot-pong is coming - a fact from a 8-2 winning record over the Russian born.
Never short of confidence at the Slams, she said: "I feel better this time around.
"I feel I can play on any surface, and this is the right setting for me. I'm enjoying my tennis. This is where I belong and what I'm best at."
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