Rafael Nadal and Aravane Rezai are the two players in the men's and women's division who are on a hot streak as the French Open. Success in tennis can be fleeting and one injury can change everything. Ana Ivanovic has yet to reach that form and if Maria Sharapova didn't win the Strasbourg International for her 22nd title, then she'd be on the list.
Nadal is injury free and in top form and three successive titles shows he is hungry and focused. And... he's playing on clay so he's a favorite to win it all (he's won his last 15 matches on this surface). I wonder how long can he maintain that pace and game that is similar to Boris Becker's where he throws himself all over the court. That must sure be hell on his knees. He's won the major clay tournaments heading into Roland Garros. That would be a huge feat for him to bag this one as well. But as hot as he is, the men's tour is loaded. Won't be easy. Robin Soderling awaits.
Rezai will be a focus more so since she beat Justin Henin, Jelena Jankovic, and Venus Williams en route to her victory in Madrid. Yet even as a favorite in the women's draw, she knows how difficult it is for French women in their home tourney as they have wilted under the weight of expectations. If she does win it, she'll be the first French-born woman in the Open era to win the tournament. One can make a case for Mary Pierce but she was born in North America and just represented France (she even spoke in a clear North Am accent).
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