‘Venus could rise in Paris again’

VETERAN Venus Williams could blast through the huge holes in the women’s draw and win her first French Open at the age of 36 next month, according to former world No. 3 Pam Shriver.

With Williams’ pregnant sister and three times French champion Serena absent, Russia’s twice winner Maria Sharapova failing to gain a wildcard after returning from a doping ban and Belarusian Victoria Azarenka still not back after becoming a mother, the biggest names in the women’s game are missing.

Add in the poor form of German world No. 1 Angelique Kerber and Spain’s defending champion Garbine Muguruza and an ankle injury for new title favourite Simona Halep of Romania and the often unpredictable claycourt slam looks wide open.

Shriver feels Venus could be the one to take advantage despite only having two quarterfinal runs in Paris since losing to Serena in her only French Open final in 2002.

“She is a more capable claycourt player than most people think and when you consider the big hitters that have won in the women’s game, Sharapova twice in the last few years and Muguruza last year, Venus is definitely one of the possibilities.”

Seven-times French Open champion Chris Evert agreed that Venus, who has won seven grand slam titles but none for nearly a decade, stands out as a player who has been there and done it in a field low on proven quality. – AFP