TNT Sports
US women lose their way
By
Published 19/05/2005 at 06:00 GMT+1
For a tennis powerhouse accustomed to dominating the grand slams, the United States' recent record at Roland Garros is something of an embarrassment. Just twice in the last 18 years has an American woman triumphed on the slow red clay courts of the French
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Not since Chris Evert and her naturalised compatriot Martina Navratilova were dominating tennis in the 1980s has the Stars and Stripes fluttered over the Paris stadium on women's finals day with anything approaching the regularity at other grand slams.
Only Jennifer Capriati in 2001 and Serena Williams in 2002 have broken the European stranglehold in place since the last of Evert's seven titles in 1986.
The third of Monica Seles's three straight French Open crowns was in 1992 but the American was still playing under the Yugoslav flag then.
Recent years have been dominated by Europeans, with Germany's Steffi Graf winning six titles, Spain's Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario winning three and Iva Majoli, Mary Pierce, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Anastasia Myskina triumphing for Croatia, France, Belgium and Russia respectively.
This year, on paper at least, the Americans would appear to have a great chance. In Lindsay Davenport they have the world number one and in Serena Williams they have the 2002 champion.
Scratch beneath the surface, however, and American hopes begin to fade.
HIP STRAIN
Capriati is out with a long-term niggling injury and last month Davenport was forced to quit Charleston's Family Circle Cup in the quarter-finals when the effort of winning Amelia Island the week before caught up with her.
"Eight matches in the last...eight or nine days, whatever it's been, definitely starts to wear on your body," she said before limping home with a slight hip strain.
Not the most promising form heading into the most gruelling tournament of the year played out on the sport's most punishing surface.
To triumph in Paris, Davenport would have to win seven straight matches against the world's elite.
Never the most mobile of competitors, the 28-year-old's age will count against her when she is up against tireless teenage baseliners in the early rounds next week.
The slow courts will also be against her as they will help to negate her ability to hit clean winners from the back and keep the points short.
World number four Serena Williams's preparation for Paris has been less than stellar.
CUSTOMARY CONFIDENCE
The winner of the Australian Open in January, Williams has won just eight matches since then -- and only two on clay.
She won two matches at Amelia Island in April before retiring injured against Italy's Silvia Farina Elia.
Last week she slumped out of the first round of the Rome Masters to Francesca Schiavone but with her customary confidence intact said she was not concerned about her form or lack of practice heading to Paris.
"Am I worried? I'm not worried, no," she smiled before leaving the Italian capital for home.
"I think everyone in their career has their worst loss. This is probably it for me, for sure -- and last; this won't be happening again."
Beyond Davenport and Williams, American hopes fade further. Serena's elder sister Venus is ranked just outside the top 10 but she too has had precious little claycourt practice this year.
After Venus, American hopes trail off with world number 30 Amy Frazier the next highest ranked player.
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