This is definitely not the season that Angelique Kerber was hoping for in 2017. After losing to Makarova (6-2 6-2) in French Open first round, the world no.1 has a horrendous 18-12 win-loss in 2017; she has lost the last three matches (collecting only 11 games in total); she is close to losing her top rank.

Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova can take full advantage of Kerber’s misery to possibly become the world no.1 after the French Open.

Pliskova

Carolina has to defend just 10 points in Paris. She has now 6100 points vs. Kerber’s 7035. This means that if the Czech wins the Roland Garros or she is the runner up, she will be the new world no.1. In fact, if she wins the tournament, she will have 6100-10+2000=8,090 points (more than Angelique’s 7,035)); if Karolina is the runner-up, she will have 6100-10+1300=7,390 points (still enough to grab the top of the rankings). In the last case, Simona Halep could not be the winner as she is in Pliskova’s half (they would clash in the semifinal).

Halep

Simona needs to win the Roland Garros to be the new world no.1. In fact, she currently has 5,790 points and 240 points to defend. Therefore, if Simona wins, she will have 5790-240+2000=7,550 points.

This will be interesting.

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