French Open Tennis 2012 Semifinals: Predictions for Wide-Open Women's Draw

The men's side of the French Open may have more big names, but the women's draw is much more intriguing. 

Why? Because of the unknown.

Rafael Nadal is a virtual lock at Roland Garros, and Roger Federer is a strong favorite over the struggling Novak Djokovic. Crazier things have happened, but we know who is likely to advance in that draw.

On the women's side, however, No. 1 Victoria Azarenka is out. The pre-tourney favorite, Serena Williams, was ousted in the first round. Last year's champ, Li Na? Gone. 

This side is absolutely wide open and because of that, it contains much more intrigue. What follows are my predictions for the semifinals, although if the tournament continues to play out like it has, the exact opposite of what we expect to happen will happen. 

Samantha Stosur vs Sara Errani

On paper, this one looks one-sided. 

Stosur, who made the French Open finals in 2010 and semifinals in 2009, has never lost to Errani, who has never had much success at Roland Garros until now. In fact, Errani has only taken one set off Stosur in five career matches.

On top of that, one of those wins came just a couple weeks ago at Rome, on clay, when Stosur beat Errani, 6-3, 7-5. 

Still, Errani has been terrific in her last two matches of the French Open. She has smashed 48 winners compared to just 31 unforced errors, and she's getting more than 70 percent of her first serves in.

I don't think she'll get by Stosur, who has yet to lose a set this tournament, but I do think she'll make things interesting.

Winner: Stosur in three sets

Petra Kvitova vs Maria Sharapova

Sharapova is looking to complete her career gland slam, but she's never been able to get past the semifinals at Roland Garros. Will this be the year that trend is broken?

Kvitova doesn't hope so, but she is far less accomplished at the courts of Roland Garros. Still, she has the potential to scare the world No. 2.

Sharapova beat Kvitova on clay last month at Stuggart, but the 22-year-old Czech played fairly well. Additionally, she knocked off Sharapova twice in 2011. Maria better watch out for the young lefty.

With the exception of her match against Klara Zakopalova, however, Sharapova has yet to lose more than three games in a set during this tournament. She has totally dominated competition, and she looks ready for a title, while Kvitova has come close to defeat multiple times.

All common sense says Sharapova has the edge in this one, and that's why I'm going with Kvitova. That's just the way things have been going this year.

Whoever wins, however, will, in my opinion, lose to Stosur in the finals.

Winner: Kvitova in three sets

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