Azarenka, Shapova, Williams, Li Na - four women hoping to win at Roland Garros

Of the 128 women contending for the singles crown at this year's Roland Garros, four women stand out in the clay-court crowd.

Reuters/Montage RFI

Victoria Azarenka

 The 22-year-old from Minsk became the first woman from Belarus to win a grand slam title when she overcame Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final in Janaury. That victory also elevated her to the rank of world number one. 

She’s twice been a quarter finalist at the French Open so will be keen to improve on those performances in this her seventh appearance in Paris.

Maria Shapova

It was only a few years ago that Sharapova was describing her movement on clay as that of a cow on ice. She comes into the 2012 tournament as one of the favourites.

“I’m much more comfortable on the surface even though I don’t play that many tournaments on it throughout the year,” she said on the eve of the championships.

“With every year that has come and the clay court season that arrives, I feel physically stronger and I think that has definitely helped me in the recovery process. I’m also enjoying playing on the surface a bit more.”

Indeed she is. The 25-year-old Russian got past last year’s French Open champion Li Na to win the Italian Open final just a week before Roland Garros.

If she does add the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen to her trophy cabinet, Sharapova will complete a career grand slam.

In the Open era only four other women have done that - Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.

Serena Williams

It’s 10 years since the younger Williams sister took home the Roland Garros title.

Since that day in June 2002 when she beat elder sister, Venus, there have only been disappointments on the clay in Paris. Williams is now 30 and running out of time to add to her 13 grand slam titles. 

Fifteen years after her debut in Paris, she is among the claimants to the throne as she retains a seething will to win even after amassing 40 million euros in prize money. With Serena there is always spectacular theatre - brutally struck shots and relentless intensity. Win or lose, it will be compelling drama. 

Li Na

Can China’s first winner of a tennis grand slam defend her title? Li answers the poser with steely distance. 

“Before the tournament started last year, I never had the feeling that I could win it," she says. "One year has passed since then, some things change and some things stay the same. So you never know.” 

Well, what we do know is that the 30-year-old world number seven comes into the 2012 event as a marked woman. There’s no chance her passing under the radar. Winning the 2011 crown reconfigured her firmament.

“I really want to stay the same but it is tough," she said. "I have had to change because I can’t do the things I used to do. Because I was the first Chinese player to win a slam people think I’m not normal.” 

To illustrate her point, Li recounts the story of how a diner in a restaurant in China screamed out in shock: “Wow, she’s eating!” 

 “I have to tell people that I am normal that I have to go to the supermarket and the post office just like everyone," she adds. "But people really do think I’m different. Sometimes it’s difficult to find a balance.”

If she were to retain her crown, she’d better get used to staying indoors.