American Serena Williams lost to Czech Klara Zakopalova last month, when they met on the claycourts of Marbella, but the second seed converted her ninth match point to advance to the second round of Roland Garros. Williams won 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4.

The world No.100 Zakopalova saved five match points at 3-5 in the second set, and took the set to a tiebreak to win it on her fourth set point. Zakopalova kept up the momentum in the third set by breaking early, but Williams then won four games in a row. It wasn’t the end of Zakopalova, though, as she saved three more match points at 5-2 down and then broke back in the next game. However, she was finally defeated on Williams' ninth match point.

Zakopalova gave Williams a hard time, but she wasn’t strong enough to beat the 2002 French Open champion on Grand Slam stage, even though Williams entered the match without wins on clay this season.

Williams' opponent in the second round will be world No.133 Virginia Ruano Pascual, who defeated Nicole Vaidisova in the opening round.

Some other first-round results: Fifth seed Jelena Jankovic, wearing the first non-boring ANTA dress, with nice detailing on the back, dominated Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic 6-2 6-3 to reach the second round of Roland Garros. Seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova also advanced in straight sets, as well as fourth seed Elena Dementieva. Virginie Razzano defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 6-3. Tenth seed Caroline Wozniacki battled past Vera Dushevina 4-6 7-5 6-1, in a match that started yesterday. Jelena Dokic is through, while Sania Mirza and Francesca Schiavone. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

The draw for the 2009 French Open is out and here’s my analysis of contenders. I would just like to mention that despite all the facts, I'm sure we all deep inside feel that the women’s field is wide open.

Dinara Safina is my top favorite to win the title. She is coming to Paris with back-to-back titles in Rome and Madrid, plus the Stuttgart final before that (and all the three tournaments mentioned are played on clay). And not only that, the world No.1 Safina was last year’s runner up at the French Open.

The Russian is in impressive form, but she shouldn’t give herself the luxury of making matches longer than they should be (although she’s great at coming back from behind), in order to be fully fit as long as it takes to claim her first Grand Slam.

The first opponent at the French Open won’t be easy for Safina, as she’s meeting Anne Keothavong who reached the semifinals of this week’s Warsaw Open. Other big names such as Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Alisa Kleybanova, Zheng Jie, Victoria Azarenka, Carla Suarez Navarro and defending champion Ana Ivanovic are also in her quarter.

Serena Williams still hasn’t won a singles match on clay this season. The world No.2 dropped openers of Marbella, Rome and Madrid, and hence it’s hard to put her as the favorite. However, knowing her impressive resume which includes the 2002 French Open title, and her ability to show her best at majors, the younger Williams sister can never be written off.

To make things more interesting, Serena Williams is playing Klara Zakopalova in the first round, the player she lost to in Marbella in April. Serena is looking at another potential tough match in the fourth round against Flavia Pennetta.

Venus Williams has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, and although she has never been victorious at Roland Garros, she played the final in 2002, and just like her sister Serena, she’s a threat anywhere and anytime.

Williams is the top seed in her quarter of the draw. Her first-round opponent will be fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands. In the second round Williams could meet Sabine Lisicki, who beat her en route to the title in Charleston last month. Read more »

Roland Garros starts May 24, and some players are already there, preparing for the second Grand Slam of the season.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, who will try to win her first French Open title, was seen training for the greatest claycourt tournament. Her sister Serena Williams, who won the event in 2002, was also busy trying to finally adapt to clay this season, with the help of father Richard.

Jelena Jankovic was seen practicing with coach Ricardo Sanchez, but as you may have heard, she will most probably change her coach if she doesn't make a good result at the French Open. Just to remind you, earlier this year Jankovic fired conditioning coach Pat Etcheberry.

JJ is exceptional on clay, but having in mind her recent problems with form and conidence, I don't expect her to claim her first Grand Slam title this time.

Also spotted was Amelie Mauresmo, who still hasn't got past the quarterfinals at her home Grand Slam.

Additional info: The draw will be available starting Friday, May 22. (photos via Roland Garros)

Second seed Serena Williams retired from her first round match against Francesca Schiavone with a knee injury, after losing the opening set 6-4.

Ahead of the Madrid Open, Williams criticized the WTA Tour injury rules commenting that players would be fined for pulling out of a tournament even if they were dead:

Unfortunately it doesn't matter if you're injured, if you're dead or if you're alive, if you don't play they're going to fine you heavily. So I have to play whether I am injured or not. That's just how it is so I have no choice.

Williams, who is currently remodeling a house, added:

I'm not into throwing away thousands and thousands of dollars. I don't know about anyone else but $75,000 is a lot of money to me. That's like my whole furniture bill, and some stairs, rugs.

Additional info: Ana Ivanovic pulled out prior to the Madrid Open, also with a knee injury. Ivanovic will have to visit the Madrid area within the next 51 weeks and perform promotional activities to avoid a fine and suspension. She will also forsake up to $250,000 in Top 10 Bonus Pool payments. (sources: Reuters, BBC; photo by our reader Jacob)

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour celebrated Mother’s Day, which I've learned is on the second Sunday of May in the United States, as opposed to March 8th here in Serbia, with a couple of videos.

One is featuring Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dinara Safina, Victoria Azarenka and Aleksandra Wozniak talking about the role of their mothers in their lives. I absolutely love Kuznetsova’s eloquent statement: "For mom, without mom I wouldn’t be here, so it’s great." This "so it's great" part is my favorite, haha.

In the other video is Jelena Jankovic with her always-present mother Snezana, who is telling us about Jelena’s childhood and how spoiled Jelena was. Of course, she’s having a lot of praise for her daughter, too. Sneki and Jeca are very cute together, and I’m happy to see Sneki healthy and active again.