THE SCOOP, ROLAND GARROS DAY 3

Williams sisters won't be doubling their fun; Henin, Clijsters, Dokic ready to move up from bottom

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Serena and Venus Williams withdrawal from the women's doubles on Wednesday before they played their first match wasn't terribly surprising, but it was certainly disappointing. While the swinging sisters have had sporadic results at Grand Slams in singles,

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

they have been the mark of consistency in doubles, winning four Slams at each different locale and the Olympic gold medal in Sydney last fall. Serena told a WTA official that she felt rusty and out-of-shape in her torturous three-set win over France's Sarah Pitowski on Tuesday and feels she needs to spend her off-days getting her movement back. How playing doubles will negatively affect her preparation is beyond us. The suspicion here is that her knee is hurting again, the same injury that kept her out the past two months. Serena may also need time to get the ringing out of her ears after hometown fans went berserk at the end of the second set due to Pitowski's constant whining over close calls. Venus was upset in the first round by Barbara Schett and booked a flight out of Paris this afternoon. It will be interesting to see whether she plays any Wimbledon warm-ups. She badly needs the match play.

HENIN, CLIJSTERS, DOKIC READY TO MOVE UP FROM THE BOTTOM
Here's the read on the three remaining seeds at the bottom half of the draw: Justine Henin has just the right amount of cockiness and a vast array of Technicolor weaponry, but he penchant for wildness will eventually catch up with her; Kim Clijsters doesn't move particularly well on clay and it will take all of her mental strength to avoid getting down on herself and parking balls past the Tour Eiffel; Jelena Dokic is playing so well right now that we would take her over any player in the draw if the final was contested tomorrow. Elena Dementieva was upset (sort of) by Slovakian bomber Henrieta Nagyova, who finally fulfilled some of the huge potential she showed when breaking on tour a few years ago. With the win, Nagyova put herself squarely in the hunt.