Going into any Grand Slam, there will always be questions surrounding the players and their prospects, their level of play heading in and what it will take for them to be crowned a major champion at the end.
Here’s three questions about some of the contenders looking to add to their Grand Slam haul at the French Open.
What happened to Garbine Muguruza after winning last year’s French Open, and is it too soon to write her off?
Being comfortable in the role of a Grand Slam contender isn’t easy for everyone. Muguruza shocked the world with her upset of Serena Williams to win her first major title at Roland Garros last year.
The year before, Muguruza reached the final of Wimbledon; the two final appearances in four Slams offered a promising sign for her future.
After that French Open win, though, the wheels seemed to fall off: Muguruza’s only made three semifinals since that surprising victory. Her game hasn’t changed, but the expectations have.
She is only 23, which means there’s plenty of time for a turnaround. Her run in Rome was encouraging and should give her some confidence as she prepares to defend the biggest title of her young career, even though she had to retire in her semifinal due to injury against Elina Svitolina. She still has the tools that allow her to excel on all surfaces. If she wins another Slam, perhaps in Paris, or makes a Slam final, all the struggles of the past year will be forgotten.
