WOMEN’S PLAYERS TO WATCH

SIMONA HALEP

Ranked: 1

Age: 26 Country: Romania

2018 Match Record: 28-6 2018 Singles Titles: 1 Career Singles Titles: 16 Major Titles (0): Best: RU, at French Open (’14, ’17), Australian Open (’18)

Topspin: Will she ever win one of these? Everyone in tennis assumes Halep will, at long last, win a Grand Slam trophy someday. Her game is simply too good not to. But the mental barrier has been overwhelming so far, with losses in three major finals.

GARBINE MUGURUZA

Ranked: 3

Age: 24 Country: Spain

2018 Match Record: 15-9 2018 Singles Titles: 1 Career Singles Titles: 6 Major Titles (2): French Open (’16), Wimbledon (’17)

Topspin: Her bold strokes and attitude and been-there-done-that pedigree mean Muguruza is always a contender for the title, no matter the circumstances.

ELINA SVITOLINA

Ranked: 4

Age: 23 Country: Ukraine

2018 Match Record: 25-6 2018 Singles Titles: 3 Career Singles Titles: 12 Major Titles (0): Best: QF, French Open (’15, ’17), Australian Open (’18)

Topspin: Might be gaining on Halep when it comes to being best player on tour without a Grand Slam title but needs to get past the quarterfinals at a major. If she ever gets to a Slam final, look out: Career record in title matches is 12-2.

MARIA SHARAPOVA

Ranked: 29

Age: 31 Country: Russia 2018 Match Record: 12-7

2018 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 36

Major Titles (5): French Open (’14, ’12), Wimbledon (’04), U.S. Open (’06), Australian Open (’08) Topspin: First appearance in Paris since 2015, after serving drug ban in 2016 and not being given a wild card last year. About as good as it gets in the third-set crucible at Grand Slam tournaments.

SERENA WILLIAMS

Ranked: 453

Age: 36 Country: United States

2018 Match Record: 2-2

2018 Singles Titles: 0

Career Singles Titles: 72

Major Titles (23): French Open (’02, ’13, ’15), U.S. Open (’99, ’02, ’08, ’12, ’13, ’14), Wimbledon (’02, ’03, ’09, ’10, ’12, ’15, ’16), Australian Open (’03, ’05, ’07, ’09, ’10, ’15, ’17)

Topspin: No one really knows what to expect from Williams, because she has played so sparingly since returning from maternity leave. But no opponent will want to face her.