2007 French Open Tennis Tournament

The real 2007 tennis season resumes for even non-tennis fans in May when the Grand Slam schedule resumes with the French Open taking over center court at Roland Garros. The red clay of Roland Garros makes the French Open the wild card of the four Grand Slam tournaments, which makes it the most interesting tournament for bettors.

On the men?s side it?s all about Rafael Nadal. The Spanish sensation has won the French the last two years, including a classic final versus Roger Federer last season. The Swiss Master, Federer will head to Paris still looking for this first French Open title to complete the career Grand Slam.

Federer is following in the footsteps of past greats like Boris Becker and Pete Sampras, who conquered every challenge the tennis game world threw at them except the red clay of Roland Garros. The last man not named Nadal to win the French was Gaston Gaudio back in 2003. Gaudio was bounced in the fourth round over the last two years at Roland Garros, but is still a threat to win any title on clay. Nadal is definitely the clear favorite, but this is the French Open and there?s always a chance of the next Gustavo Kuerten making a name for himself by winning the French.

The woman?s tennis tour may not have a Roger Federer that wins almost every tournament, but that?s not exactly the case when it comes to the French Open. In Paris the woman everyone will be watching is Justine Henin-Hardenne. The Belgian starlet has won the last two French Open tournaments and also took home the title in 2003. Henin-Hardenne could have also won the title in 2004 if not for an illness that sapped all her energy during most of the season. The winner that year was Anastasia Myskina, but she hasn?t appeared in a Grand Slam final since and would need a miracle to change that in Paris.

Last year Henin-Hardenne defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final. That was Kuznetsova?s first Grand Slam final since winning the U.S. Open in 2004 and she?s still looking for her first title this season. A win at the French for her would be a surprise. Speaking of surprises, keep an eye on tennis player Serena Williams. The younger of the Williams sisters was a French Open champion back in 2002, but what makes her a real contender is her shocking win in the Australian Open earlier this year. Williams entered that tournament unseeded, but she won?t be able to surprise anyone in Paris.

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