Andreescu to Errani: Five to watch in women's qualifying

BIANCA ANDREESCU

Still aged only 24, five-and-a-half years have elapsed since Andreescu stunned Serena Williams for her maiden Slam silverware at Flushing Meadows.

The highs have been few and far between since due to injuries, mental health challenges and form indifference, yet the Canadian has been in fine fettle lately following wins over Donna Vekic and Elena Rybakina to reach the round of 16 on clay in Rome.

In only her fourth tournament of 2024, following a six-month hiatus, the world No.121’s victories marked her first over two top 20 rivals at the same event since she charged to the US Open title in 2019.

Last year, Andreescu came back following nine months out of action at Roland Garros where she fell to eventual finalist Jasmine Paolini in the third round, her equal best result. She opens against China’s Yao Xinxin.

SARA ERRANI

Most at home with the terre battue beneath her feet, former world No.5 Sara Errani is back at the site of her deepest run at a major in what will be her last Roland-Garros in singles.

That treasured fortnight came in 2012, when seeded 21st she stunned four straight current or future Grand Slam champions – Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Angelique Kerber and Sam Stosur – before Maria Sharapova had her measure in the decider.

The 38-year-old reached a semifinal and two further quarterfinals in succession at Roland Garros, but she has not reached the second week since. Memories of her Olympic doubles gold medal alongside Jasmine Paolini in Paris last August, however, are still fresh as she prepares to face German 19th seed Jule Niemeier first up.

TAYLOR TOWNSEND

A freak tumble during a doubles match in Miami in March left Taylor Townsend with mild concussion and a subsequent stint on the sidelines, which prompted her withdrawal from the entire clay-court swing leading into Roland-Garros.

While less than ideal preparations, the American left-hander provided reassurance she would be back firing for the season’s second major, where she drew Japan’s Sara Saito in the opening round of qualifying.

The 29-year-old’s best results have been more pronounced in doubles – she won Wimbledon 2024 and Australian Open 2025 with Katerina Siniakova and reached the final in Paris with Leylah Fernandez in 2023 – but she made a surprise run to the third round in singles as an 18-year-old in her Grand Slam debut in 2014.

LINDA FRUHVIRTOVA

Much has been expected of Czech sisters Linda and Brenda Fruhvirtova since they stamped their respective marks early in qualifying for Grand Slam main draws as teenagers.

The older of the two, Linda, enjoyed her second-week breakout at Melbourne Park in 2023, the same season she cracked the top 50, but it hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing since largely due to injuries, which have contributed to a slip to her current mark of world No.145.

The highlight of her season has been a runner-up showing at a W125 event in Puerto Vallarta and after early stumbles in her past four Slam qualifying attempts, the 20-year-old chases a main draw return in Paris for the second time. First up she meets Poland’s Linda Klimovicova.

TAMARA ZIDANSEK

Roland-Garros stands tall as Zidansek’s career highlight following her dash to the semifinals as an unseeded player in 2021.

The first Slovenian to venture as far at a major, her shot variety and consistency shone in a run that included wins over then-No.6 Andreescu and Paula Badosa before she succumbed to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The 27-year-old, who began playing when her skiing program offered tennis lessons during the summer, climbed to a career-best world No.22 early in 2022 but now sits just outside the top 150.

She plays Czech Dominika Salkova in her first qualifying match.

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