With the COVID-19 outbreak happening worldwide, we\u2019re not exactly sure when sports will be back. However, tennis still has the 2020 French Open in the plans. For now, let\u2019s take an early look at some of the best longshots with a chance to win on the women\u2019s side in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is undeniable value with Anisimova, especially when realizing that last year, she was not considered as a top choice to win the title, yet came very close to making the final. Anisimova led Ashleigh Barty by a set and 3-0 in the second set before losing that semifinal match in three sets. Anisimova crushed defending champion Simona Halep \u2013 regarded by many as the best clay-court player in the world \u2013 in the quarterfinals. If she can do that, she is capable of winning the tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is true that Anisimova\u2019s father died late last summer, something which is hard for a teenager to deal with. Yet, Anisimova certainly has the talent to make a deep run in Paris. Moreover, the first major champion of 2020 was Sofia Kenin, a 21-year-old who moved to America but was taught by Russian parents. Anisimova shares that fundamental identity of having Russian parentage but coming of age in America. You could make a far worse dark-horse pick than this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2017 French Open women\u2019s champion showed an improved serve in a 7-6, 7-6 loss to Serena Williams at the Fed Cup in early February. If Ostapenko \u2013 whose serve had become a liability in the 2018 and 2019 seasons \u2013 is able to get more from her serve, at least to the extent that opponents can\u2019t tee off on her second serve and don\u2019t get nearly as many easy points off her serve, she would become a much more formidable player. She could return to the level of form which propelled her to a Roland Garros championship. Her groundstrokes are powerful from both the forehand and backhand wings. She plays good defense and is a fierce competitor. If the serve holds up, this is a player who can make a big push toward the title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A tennis player is generally considered a threat to win a major championship if that player can make the second week of the two-week major tournament. Kontaveit has made the second week of a major tournament before. She has considerable power and is a clean ballstriker. Her nerves often get the better of her, but if she can shrug off those nerves, she has demonstrated that she can hit opponents off the court. It is not too unreasonable to think that she can surprise people in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201csecond week\u201d identity of Kontaveit is shared by Donna Vekic, who made the second week at Roland Garros last year and also made the second week at the 2019 U.S. Open in New York. Vekic has shown signs of becoming a player who can make a semifinal run at a major. If she is capable of making the semis, the idea that she could go a few steps more and win the title is hardly absurd. Talent is not in question here; it\u2019s more about handling pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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