Halep is chasing a maiden Grand Slam (Picture: Getty)
Halep is chasing a maiden Grand Slam (Picture: Getty)

Simona Halep heads into her favourite Grand Slam as world No. 1 for the first time in her career, having come desperately close to capturing the title in the past.

The Romanian has endured her fair share of pain at this level – losing in three separate finals, two of which came at Roland Garros.

Her narrow losses to Maria Sharapova and Jelena Ostapenko in Paris preceded her most recent defeat to Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open this year – all agonisingly went the distance.

One major problem for Halep in 2018 is the returning cast. Multiple Grand Slam champions Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova are all back in the draw having missed the 2017 edition and the WTA field looks as strong as ever.

But can the 26-year-old finally get over the line at a major? Or will she come up short once more?

Here we take a look at the event and offer a prediction as to who will come out on top…

What happened last year?

Ostapenko stunned the world (Picture: Getty)

In the first major without both Serena and Sharapova since 2002, the world was stunned as 20-year-old Jelena Ostapenko – who began the tournament as a teenager – shocked hot favourite Halep in the final to become the first Latvian Grand Slam champion.

It was the youngster’s first WTA title and Halep’s defeat kept Angelique Kerber as world No. 1, despite the German losing in round one.

Defending champion Garbine Muguruza went out in hostile circumstances against Kiki Mladenovic, who was backed by a raucous crowd.

For British hopeful Johanna Konta it was a painful first-round exit, having been a set up on Hsieh Su-Wei.

How has the draw panned out?

Sharapova has a tough draw to negotiate (Picture: NurPhoto/Getty)

In a word: chaotic.

Reigning champ Ostapenko is set to meet Victoria Azarenka in the second round, while 2016 winner Muguruza meets another former French Open victor Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first round.

Sharapova, meanwhile, is set for a testing battle against sixth seed Karolina Pliskova in round three with the winner set to meet Serena Williams in the last-16.

Projected women's French Open quarter-finals

Halep-Garcia
Pliskova-Muguruza
Svitolina-Ostapenko
Kvitova-Wozniacki

With such depth in the women’s game right now, there’s no really easy draw out there, with plenty of pitfalls to negotiate but two-time Slam champion Kvitova arguably has the best of the bunch!

From a British perspective, Konta opens against Yulia Putintseva, while Heather Watson begins against Oceane Dodin.

What’s happened in the clay-court season so far?

Svitolina won the final title of the clay-court season in Rome (Picture: AFP/Getty)
Svitolina won the final title of the clay-court season in Rome (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Kvitova has been the star of the show on the dirt – and even handed herself a rest in Rome after reeling off titles in Prague and Madrid.

Fellow Czech Pliskova also picked up an impressive win in Stuttgart and enjoyed a decent run in Madrid, while Garbine Muguruza and Elise Mertens were among the title winners.

Three other names who really caught the eye, were Sharapova, Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens.

Women's clay-court season winners

Charleston – Bertens
Monterrey – Muguruza
Lugano – Mertens
Bogota – Schmiedlova
Stuttgart – Pliskova
Prague – Kvitova
Rabat – Mertens
Madrid – Kvitova
Rome – Svitolina

Sharapova may not have won a title, but her form in Madrid and Rome was impressive and she’s back among the seeds at a major.

Svitolina stormed to the Italian Open title, which she also won in 2017, and has generally played some impressive stuff.

And finally, Charleston champion Bertens was also a finalist in Madrid – losing an epic against Kvitova. She’s definitely in with a shout of going deep at Roland Garros.

Who are the favourites?

Halep remains the favourite (Picture: NurPhoto via Getty)

As is reflected in the odds, this one is really quite tough to call.

Halep remains the favourite, with Svitolina coming in at a close second.

Experienced duo Sharapova and Williams follow next along with Ostapenko and Kvitova, while Pliskova, Daria Kasatkina, Caroline Wozniacki, home favourite Caroline Garcia and Bertens are all in at 25/1 or under.

French Open winner odds (Betfair)

6/1 – Halep
13/2 – Svitolina
10/1 – Sharapova
14/1 – Muguruza
14/1 – Williams
14/1 – Ostapenko
14/1 – Kvitova
18/1 – Pliskova
20/1 – Kasatkina
25/1 – Wozniacki
25/1 – Garcia
25/1 – Bertens

Prediction?

Kvitova has enjoyed a great clay-court season (Picture: Getty)

Prior to the draw, I had a sneaking feeling that Sharapova would go all the way but looking at her run, it would be a real ask to clinch the title.

Halep remains the obvious favourite and her draw isn’t awful, while I do expect Svitolina to make the breakthrough at a Slam sooner rather than later so wouldn’t be surprised for her to go all the way.

But star of the clay-court season Kvitova is in sparkling form, should be well-rested after skipping Rome and has a very favourable draw – she’s who I’ll lump for (though, as always with the WTA draws, with little confidence)!

Prediction: Kvitova to win her first French Open title