Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka Head Strong WTA Field At 2012 Mutua Madrid Open

Maria Sharapova at All-Access Hour Mutua Madrid Open 2012

We have the red clay at Roland Garros, the famed terre battue. There is the green clay of Family Circle Cup, which plays differently than the red clay. Now, there is the blue clay of the Mutua Madrid Open. The organizers assure us that the blue clay will play just like the red clay. In fact, it was originally red clay. We will see what the players say once the event begins.

Victoria Azarenka at All-Access Hour

The WTA’s entire top 10 will be at Madrid, setting up the chance to get some answers going into Roland Garros. Specifically, for me, I am waiting to see how the top 4, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova,Petra Kvitova and Agnieszka Radwanska perform in relation to Serena Williams. Serena didn’t look overwhelming until Family Circle Cup, where she destroyed Samantha Stosur, Lucie Safarova and the rest of the players she faced on the way to the title. As great as she looked in Charleston, Serena was beaten by Caroline Wozniacki in Miami. If one of the top 4 can take the title in Madrid (my personal picks would be Masha or Petra), it would send a message going into Rome and ultimately Paris.