Women to watch at the French Open, where play begins Sunday:
SERENA WILLIAMS
Ranked: 1
Age: 33
Country: United States
2015 Match Record: 25-1
2015 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 66
Major Titles: 19 - French Open ('02, '13), Wimbledon ('02, '03, '09, '10, '12), U.S. Open ('99, '02, '08, '12, '13, '14), Australian Open ('03, '05, '07, '09, '10, '15)
Last 5 French Opens: '14-Lost in 2nd Round, '13-Won Championship, '12-1st Round, '11-Did Not Play, '10-QF
Topspin: Only Margaret Smith Court (24) and Steffi Graf (22) have won more Grand Slam singles titles. ... Began season with a 24-match winning streak, which ended with a semifinal loss on clay in Madrid to two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. ... Pulled out of Rome a week later, citing a right elbow injury. ... Over the past 12 months, has played in 15 tournaments, fewest of any woman ranked in the top 100. ... Winning 75.1 percent of first-serve points, which leads the tour. ... Older sister Venus is ranked 15th.
MARIA SHARAPOVA
Ranked: 2
Age: 28
Country: Russia
2015 Match Record: 26-5
2015 Singles Titles: 2
Career Singles Titles: 35
Major Titles: 5 - French Open ('12, '14), Wimbledon ('04), U.S. Open ('06), Australian Open ('08)
Last 5 French Opens: '14-W, '13-F, '12-W, '11-SF, '10-3rd
Topspin: Reached the final at Roland Garros each of the past three years, and won the trophy twice in that span. ... Her 2012 title in Paris completed a career Grand Slam and was her first major championship since right shoulder surgery in 2010. ... Second serve is still very much boom or bust; she ranks second on tour with 137 double-faults, but also second on second-serve points won at 51.8 percent.
SIMONA HALEP
Ranked: 3
Age: 23
Country: Romania
2015 Match Record: 29-6
2015 Singles Titles: 3
Career Singles Titles: 11
Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, at French Open ('14)
Last 5 French Opens: '14-F, '13-1st, '12-1st, '11-2nd, '10-1st
Topspin: Leads WTA in 2015 singles titles. ... After failing to make a quarterfinal in her first 14 Grand Slam tournaments, has been at least that far at four of the past five, including runner-up finish at Roland Garros a year ago. ... Winning 49.9 percent of return games this year, second on tour only to 2012 French Open runner-up Sara Errani at 53.2. ... Won the 2008 French Open junior title.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
Ranked: 5
Age: 25
Country: Denmark
2015 Match Record: 23-10
2015 Singles Titles: 1
Career Singles Titles: 23
Major Titles: 0 - Best: F, U.S. Open ('09, `14)
Last 5 French Opens: '14-1st, '13-2nd, '12-3rd, '11-3rd, '10-QF
Topspin: Patient, retrieving style and ability to play lengthy matches should make her better suited to success on red clay. ... Her 13 career match victories in Paris are her fewest at any of the four Grand Slam tournaments. ... Has only made it to the quarterfinals once, back in 2010. ... Very good friends with Serena Williams, who beat her in last year's U.S. Open final.
CARLA SUAREZ NAVARRO
Ranked: 8
Age: 26
Country: Spain
2015 Match Record: 31-10
2015 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 1
Major Titles: 0 - Best: QF, French Open ('08, '14), Australian Open ('09), U.S. Open ('13)
Last 5 French Opens: '14-QF, '13-4th, '12-3rd, '11-DNP, '10-1st
Topspin: Enters with a career-best ranking, only third Spanish woman ever in the top 10 (along with past major champions Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Conchita Martinez). ... Pushed Maria Sharapova to three sets in the Rome final on clay this month; eliminated Eugenie Bouchard, Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep en route. ... Has played tour-high 21 three-set matches, winning 17.
MADISON KEYS
Ranked: 16
Age: 20
Country: United States
2015 Match Record: 13-8
2015 Singles Titles: 0
Career Singles Titles: 1
Major Titles: 0 - Best: SF, at Australian Open ('15)
Last 5 French Opens: '14-1st, '13-2nd, '12-DNP, '11-DNP, '10-DNP
Topspin: At 5-foot-10 (1.78 meters), generates a lot of power on her serves and off the ground. ... Defeated past major champions Venus Williams and Petra Kvitova during breakthrough run to first major semifinal in Australia in January, before losing to Serena Williams.
