Roland Garros - Women’s Thursday Preview

Kim Clijsters vs. Arantxa Rus

After a not-so-perfect start, Kim Clijsters is ready to find her top form to fetch comfortable wins to move ahead in the draw at the second major of the year.

Winner for 4 Grand Slam titles, Kim Clijsters takes on Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus for a place in the third round of the 2011 French Open, season's second major being played here in Paris, France.

On Tuesday, Kim Clijsters played her first match in nearly two months which was also her first claycourt match of the season and it was evident that road to title glory is not easy for Mrs. Clijsters, who is hoping to clinch her third consecutive major after wins in New York and Melbourne. Clijsters made a flurry of unforced errors during the entire match and let a lower ranked Yakinmova come back several times in the sets. Before Roland Garros, Clijsters last professional match was in Miami where she was a defending champion. Clijsters lost to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka in straight sets and took a series of injuries, most notable of which was her wrist injury which took six weeks to heal, In the meantime, an unfortunate accident at a private function caused an ankle injury to the Belgian who waited till the last weekto decide on participation. Clijsters must play cautiously against these initial round opponents to get back in the rhythm and prepare herself for big tests.

Clijsters' opponent, Dutch Arantxa Rus picked up her only 2 match wins this year in Grand Slam events. After beating American Bethanie Mattek Sands in Melbourne at the Australian Open, Rus defeated New Zealand's Marina Erakovic. Currently ranked 114 in the world, Rus has no WTA singles titles to her name so far and her best showing has come at the ITF level where she won a few trophies.

This is the first meeting between both players and even though Clijsters is not in her top form, she seems strong enough to fend off the challenge of Arantxa Rus.

Victoria Azarenka vs. Pauline Parmentier

Enjoying an amazing form and some scintillating title wins already this season, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka is hoping to clinch her maiden Grand Slam in Paris.

World No.4 Victoria Azarenka takes on home favourite Pauline Parmentier for a place in the third round of the 2011 French Open, season's second Grand Slam event being played here at Roland Garros in Paris, France.

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka is enjoying the best phase of her career with a an all-time high No.4 ranking on the WTA tour. With titles in Miami and Marbella, she seems to have made a fine return to the winner's circle. Azarenka also had a good start to the European claycourt season when she reached the finals in Madrid before falling to Czech Petra Kvitova. Azarenka is a strong contender for the title this year by the virtue of her consistent results.

Azarenka's opponent, Frenchwoman Pauline Parmentier only managed to enter four main draw events and failed to win a match before shining bright on home soil in Paris where she beat Russian Ksenia Pervak in straight sets. Currently ranked No. 105 in the world, Parmentier has two WTA singles titles to her name.

Both players have contested three matches before and Azarenka leads the way 2-1. In the pair's previous meeting, Azarenka scored a straight sets win in Memphis two years ago.

Azarenka is without a doubt , playing the best tennis of her life and is a heavy favourite, not only in this match but during the fortnight as well.

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