Halep hopes to break new ground

THE JOSTLING began in the bottom half of the women’s draw yesterday with a place in the French Open final very much up for grabs.

Although it is the exit of Serena Williams that made the biggest headlines, with Maria Sharapova still in the top half of the draw, there is a clear favourite.

Without Australian Open champion Li Na in the bottom half, things are much more open.

The highest seed left is Romanian Simona Halep, whose remarkable rise up the rankings made her fourth seed for the tournament.

Last year she was ranked outside the top 50 but seven titles since have turned her into a real contender for the biggest prizes.

Halep, though, has only reached one Grand Slam quarter-final, at the Australian Open in January, so a semi-final or final would be breaking new ground.

The 22-year-old looked in good shape against Britain’s Heather Watson in round two, winning 6-2 6-4 to set up a clash with Spain’s Maria-TeresaTorro-Flor.

The direct beneficiary of Li’s first-round loss could be 28th seed Andrea Petkovic, a 6-2 4-6 6-2 winner over StefanieVoegele.

The German is the only seed left in her quarter and next meets Li’s conqueror Kristina Mladenovic, who backed up her big victory by defeating American Alison Riske in three sets.

There are five players left in the bottom half who have made a Grand Slam final — Sara Errani, Jelena Jankovic, Petra Kvitova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic — with the latter three having won titles.

Kuznetsova and Ivanovic have both won the French Open, and the latter is having her best season since her Roland Garros triumph in 2008 and must be a strong contender.

Ivanovic, who overcame a tricky hurdle in teenager Elina Svitolina, next plays Lucie Safarova while Kuznetsova takes on Kvitova.

American Sloane Stephens, who reserves her best form for the Grand Slams, beat Polona Hercog 6-1 6-3.

Sharapova is in third round action today against Argentina’s Paula Ormaechea while third seed Agnieszka Radwanska, the highest seed left in the tournament, opens proceedings on Court Philippe Chatrier against Ajla Tomljanovic.

AP. Sloane Stephens.