The French Open, the second Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, begins on Sunday in Paris. Roger Federer decided to skip it to rest for Wimbledon. A pregnant Serena Williams will also be absent. Maria Sharapova was not invited. Who will seize the opportunity? Here are a few suggestions. GEOFF MACDONALD
The indefatigable Thiem, of Austria, heads to Paris with confidence after a fantastic clay-court season. The 23-year-old reached the finals of Barcelona and Madrid, where he fell to Rafael Nadal, the king of clay. After losing a lopsided final in Barcelona, Thiem had two set points in the first-set tiebreaker against Nadal in Madrid.