2009 French Open Begins Next Leg of Tennis Grand Slam

The 2009 French Open is tennis's second major, with the French Open also the first major tennis title in months. The 2009 French Open kicks off the rush through the rest of the Grand Slam season, as the best players in the world return to France to add to their resumes, or break through for the first time. But as always, the French Open may mainly be centered on tennis's two top male players, and their chances of facing off yet again in the 2009 French Open final.

The big, hyped up rivalry in tennis is between Rafal Nadal and Roger Federer. Now that Nadal has won Grand Slam matches over Federer outside of the French Open, their rivalry isn't one-sided anymore. In fact, Nadal is threatening to make it one-sided in his favor.

Heading into the 2009 French Open, Nadal gets to play on his favorite clay court, which he has dominated for four years. Before Nadal broke through at Wimbledon last year, and at the Australian Open this year, fans wondered if the French Open would be the only tennis major he would ever win.

Now, with Nadal heading back into his comfort zone at the French Open, and with him defending his Wimbledon title in a few months, whispers of a Nadal Grand Slam could start in a matter of weeks.

But the 2009 French Open could instead be the one where Roger Federer finally breaks through in France. Like Pete Sampras, Federer has conquered every tennis major except this one, denying him the career Grand Slam. After beating Nadal on clay in a final last week, Federer carries much needed momentum.

While Nadal and Federer have most of tennis's headlines at the 2009 French Open, the women cannot be ignored either. Ana Ivanovic is trying to defend her title after slipping to the bottom half of the top 10 in the rankings. Venus and Serena Williams are on the hunt as always, as they can own a collective Grand Slam if one of them wins.

But the current number one in women's tennis is clay-court expert Dinara Safina, who is nevertheless looking for her first Grand Slam.

The 2009 French Open is already under way, kicking off two weeks of clay-court thrills at Roland Garros. All of it will lead up to new - or familiar - champions being crowned two weekends from now.

Sources

Washington Post- "Nadal Bring Vulnerability to French Open" www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/23/AR2009052301296.html

Fresh News- "French Open really open for top female contenders" www.freshnews.in/french-open-really-open-for-top-female-contenders-145132