'New women's champ in Paris' Sania Mirza gives her prediction

Russia’s Mirra Andreeva returns to USA’s Hailey Baptiste in the semis of the Madrid Open last month, where she finished as runner-up; (right) Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina hits one back to USA’s Coco Gauff during her win in the final of the Rome Open last week. Pics/AFP

Former India tennis ace Sania Mirza says it's tough to pick one clear favourite in women's singles at the French Open this year, and in fact, believes the tournament could witness a new champion, between Russian Mirra Andreeva and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.

The second Grand Slam of the calendar year starts on May 24 with the qualifiers underway currently.

Sania Mirza. Pic/Ashish Raje

The women's singles draw has many established names like World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, defending champion Coco Gauff and three-time champion Iga Swiatek, but Mirza, 38, who has won six Grand Slam doubles titles, including a mixed doubles title at Roland Garros, stressed that the competition in the women's game is very tough and that recent form points to a new winner. "In the women's section, for the first time in a while, it's quite open. You've had different winners recently, you've had [Elina] Svitolina [at the Italian Open], you've had Marta Kostyuk [win at the Madrid Open]. You've had Elena Rybakina win at Stuttgart [Open], Andreeva played the final [in Madrid]. Sabalenka is not playing the best that we've seen her play on this surface. Iga Swiatek is someone that plays unbelievably on clay, but has had a quiet last few months. So, it's quite open and my gut is that we might have a new champion, maybe a Andreeva or a Svitolina, somebody like that who has been knocking on the door of winning a Grand Slam for a while," the former doubles World No. 1 told mid-day during a virtual interaction organised by the Sony Sports Network on Thursday.

However, in the men's game, Mirza feels it's difficult to look past World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, especially since reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn due to a wrist injury. "Sinner has been in incredible form. He has just become the first man to win five [six] Masters 1000 in a row. If you just have to go by the results and how he has been playing, he comes in as the hot favourite. Also, not having Alcaraz is going to be a huge mental boost for him," she explained.

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Mirra Andreeva's win-loss record at the French Open

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No. of times Elina Svitolina has reached the quarter-finals at the French Open - her best result