Third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova was stunned when people told her that Roger Federer, the top-ranked ATP player and ten-time Grand Slam champion, thinks that she will be the one to win Roland Garros.

Kuznetsova logged on to the Internet to check whether that’s true. When she saw Federer’s words: "I like her game, she plays well," she couldn’t believe it and had to pinch herself.

"The Russian press told me and I thought 'No, it was a joke'. So I wanted to check it myself and read this on the Internet," Kuznetsova said after reaching the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.

"If I would have to choose a compliment from anybody, it's definitely the best I ever heard. Roger is a legend and to hear him say that is almost a dream.

"It's unbelievable to hear my hero say this about my tennis."

Kuznetsova, a runner-up in the 2006 French Open, is eager to play the best she can, and live up to Federer’s expectations by winning the title on Saturday.

"If he likes my game, I would like to prove it more," she said.

In the quarterfinal she will play the rising Serb Ana Ivanovic. In their head-to-heads Ivanovic leads 2-1. On hard courts they are tied, but Ivanovic leads 1-0 on clay. (source: Reuters)

The top-ranked ATP player Roger Federer, when asked to name who he thought would win the French Open, shot back an answer almost as quickly as one of his forehands.

"Kuznetsova," he said. "I like her game. She plays well."

Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded third, beat Ekaterina Bychkova in the opening round, then Meghann Shaughnessy in the second, and lastly Dominika Cibulkova to advance to the round four where she will play fifteenth seed Shahar Peer of Israel.

The 21-year-old Russian — a U.S. Open champion in 2004 — reached the final last year, losing to Justine Henin. (source: International Herald Tribune)

The players that pose the biggest threat to the 2003, 2005, and 2006 French Open winner, Justine Henin, are Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The American, who won Roland Garros in 2002, hasn't played much, but if she is fit and healthy, she can achieve everything. Serena has proved many times that she is a true champion. By winning this year's Australian Open, when only few people believed in her, she showed that we can still expect some great results from her. What we can say without a doubt is that Serena is entering the French Open with confidence.

The other candidate to make problems to Henin is Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova. She defeated Henin in Berlin last week on clay. If she keeps her mental strength, world No. 3 can beat any player. She is fit, strong and moves well.

However, there are very few players that can challenge the Belgian in Paris. Amelie Mauresmo is struggling after a two-month break caused by her appendix operation, Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis have both sustained injuries and are still not sure if they will play, Kim Clijsters has retired, while Venus Williams doesn't have much of a chance. (via ESPN)

Internazionali BNL d'Italia is the most prestigious clay-court tournament after Roland Garros. It is a Tier I event with the prize money of $1,340,000.

Amelie Mauresmo of France is seeded at the top. She is the 2004 and 2005 winner, and in 2000, 2001 and 2003 she was in the final. Although world No. 4 has only recently returned to tennis, after a break caused by her appendix operation, she is still one of the favorites to take the trophy.

Second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova hasn't had a very satisfying year — she was a runner-up three times (in Doha, Indian Wells, and last week in Berlin). Still, without doubt, she has a potential to make Rome her first title of 2007.

World No. 5 Jelena Jankovic is definitely in good form. The Serbian has already collected two titles in 2007– Auckland and Charleston. We can expect a lot from her.

Although Serena Williams hasn't played since the Fed Cup first round in April, the 2002 champion, this year seeded 8th, is certainly someone we can't discount. She has been superb this season winning the Australian Open and Sony Ericsson Open. What more can you ask for?

Nadia Petrova of Russia is seeded fifth. She won three consecutive titles on clay last year. Her compatriot Dinara Safina, seeded sixth, reached the final on clay in Charleston, as well as last year in Rome when she was defeated by Martina Hingis.

Other players making up the top 8 seeds are Nicole Vaidisova and Anna Chakvetadze. We expect some good action from them as well.

We should also mention No. 12th seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia who won a tournament in Berlin a few days ago and entered the top 10 for the first time in her career. In Rome's quarterfinals we might have a chance to watch a re-run of Berlin's final with Kuznetsova.

Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis won't play this year because of injuries, while world No.1 Justine Henin didn't enter. (via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Only three women from the top ten will take part in the first round of the Fed Cup — Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova and Anna Chakvetadze; they are all representatives of Russia.

Why won't the other highly ranked players compete in the Fed Cup?

• Top-ranked Justine Henin of Belgium wants to have enough time to prepare for the clay-season, as well as to treat her breathing problems. Her next tournament will be Warsaw, starting April 30.
• Maria Sharapova, Russia's highest-ranked player, won't make her Fed Cup debut because of injured shoulder and hamstring.
• France's Amelie Mauresmo is recovering from her appendectomy.
• Kim Clijsters, another Belgian top player, decided to skip the Fed Cup because of her busy schedule.
• Countries of Martina Hingis (Switzerland), Nicole Vaidisova (the Czech Republic) and Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) are not in the World Group.

Svetlana Kuznetsova's poor play in Miami cost her to go down two spots in WTA Tour Singles Rankings (from 3rd to 5th). Two players own her a favor for their higher ranking – Amelie Mauresmo returns to the top three, while Kim Clijsters jumps to the 4th place. Russia still has a representative in the 10th place, but this time a different one – Anna Chakvetadze replaced Elena Dementieva. There's one person who seems to have an enormous determination to return to the prestigious top ten and that is Serena Williams. This week she has jumped from number 18 to number 11.