Women's draw wide open at French Open

Even before three-time defending champ Justine Henin abruptly retired, the women's field at this year's French Open had an atypically wide-open feel.

Henin's game was wavering. No one player dominated. And surprising faces were making deep runs at clay tournaments.

After Henin's stunning retirement last week at age 25, Roland Garros, which begins Sunday, is shaping up as more of a crapshoot than ever.

"It changes the whole complexion of the French Open because she was the most dominant player winning the last three years, four in the last five, and it just opens it up for everybody, for anybody," ESPN analyst Mary Joe Fernandez said on a conference call.

Henin's absence is an opportunity for top-ranked Maria Sharapova and No. 5 Serena Williams.

During her reign in Paris, Henin used speed and court sense to blunt the raw power of Sharapova, 21, and Williams, 26, who are less comfortable on clay. Williams (1-4) and Sharapova (0-2) were a combined 1-6 vs. Henin on clay.

"Whether it's Serena or Maria, it's just huge not to have Justine on the other side," Fernandez said.

Australian Open champ Sharapova reached the semifinals at Roland Garros last year and earned her first clay-court title last month at Amelia Island, Fla. It was the third of Sharapova's three titles in 2008.

Williams, who also has three titles, is the only former French Open champ in the women's draw. Williams won at Paris in 2002, which kicked off her run of four consecutive majors, the "Serena Slam." She beat sister Venus Williams in all four major finals.

Henin's departure might be an even bigger psychological advantage for the two Serbs, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic.

Big-hitter Ivanovic and fleet-footed Jankovic "were completely intimidated by her," ESPN's Patrick McEnroe said during a conference call. "They just feel there is no way to beat her in a big match. It could help them the most."

No. 2 Ivanovic has had a subpar clay season, but she reached last year's Roland Garros final and should be more tested this time.

Jankovic, ranked No. 3 and a semifinalist last year, should be confident after defending her title at Rome last week.

Former French Open runner-ups Svetlana Kuznetsova (2006) and Elena Dementieva (2004) also are capable on clay. Both Russians have the knowledge that they can go deep at the premier clay event.

Dinara Safina of Russia, who beat Henin, Serena Williams and Dementieva on her way to the Berlin championship, and Alize Cornet, the 18-year-old Frenchwoman who made the Rome final, could also do some damage.

Four-time Wimbledon champ Venus Williams has had an inconsistent year and isn't considered a major threat on clay, even though she was a finalist six years ago.

"Whenever Venus steps out on the court, she is going to be dangerous," Fernandez said. "On the clay, I think she struggles more."