Let’s face it: A Novak Djokovic–Rafael Nadal final at the French Open seems like a foregone conclusion. With that in mind, we’ve gone in search of other players to keep an eye on until then.
1. Caroline Wozniacki » Maria Sharapova is playing the best tennis among the women, but the 20-year-old Dane is the world’s top-ranked player, and she’s still in search of her first Grand Slam title. Wozniacki’s defense-first style got her to the quarterfinals last year.
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2. Gael Monfils » The hometown fans couldn’t be more desperate for one of their own to go deep. At first glance, Monfils’ No. 9 ranking would make him a good candidate. But despite his steady overall ascent, his 9-4 record in 2011 isn’t impressive.
3. Julia Goerges » The 22-year-old German is coming off her best career finish in a major — getting to the third round at the Australian Open — and bested Wozniacki in both Stuttgart and Madrid. The pair of upsets vaulted Goerges into Cinderella territory at Roland Garros.
4. Juan Martin del Potro » After losing most of 2010 to a wrist injury that decimated his ranking, del Potro wants to temper expectations for his return. But a solid run at the French, where he advanced to the semifinals in 2009, could signal that he’s back on track earlier than expected.
5. Victoria Azarenka » Good or bad, the 21-year-old Belarusian has a knack for drama, whether it’s via her belting, grunt-reinforced ground strokes or her volatile emotional swings. She’s as likely to end up in the semifinals or finals as she is to lash out at herself and retire in the middle of a match.
