Maria and Serena Debut as "La Lionessa" Returns to Paris

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Maria and Serena Debut as "La Lionessa" Returns to Paris

By Erik Gudris Photo Credit: Getty Images

(May 28th, 2012) The final batch of first round matches scheduled tomorrow at Roland Garros will feature two of the biggest names in the women's draw along with a woman who has almost become synonymous with the event itself after having reached the finals two years in a row.

No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova will start her quest for a first ever title in Paris with an opening round match against Romania's Alexandra Cadantu while No. 5 seed Serena Williams meets French veteran Virginie Razzano. Both matches will be first time meetings for all the players but expect Williams and Sharapova to get through rather easily as they look forward to a possible quarterfinal meeting with each other next week.

No. 4 seed Petra Kvitova who some think is ripe for an early round upset will take on Australia's Ashleigh Barty. No. 9 seed Caroline Wozniacki could have a tricky time against the slice and volley style of Greece's Eleni Daniilidou who holds a 1-1 record against the former No.1. No. 16 seed Maria Kirilenko, who is dealing with an ankle injury, will take on France's Victoria Larriere.

Finally, the match that might be worth watching if nothing more than just for sentimental value will be between No. 14 seed Francesca Schiavone, known as "La Lionessa" in her native Italy, against one of the few women older than her in Japan's "ageless wonder" 41-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm. Schiavone, who won Paris in 2010 and reached the finals last year, turned her 2012 season around last week by taking the title in Strasbourg and at least looks on form to possibly reach the second week in Paris.

Schiavone leads the overall head to head 2-0 and with her recent form should prevail in this one. But the hard and flat strokes of Date-Krumm against the all-court style of Schiavone will make this match, the first one on the main stadium, a good way to start off Day 3 at the French Open.

For a complete schedule of play, go here.