2008 French Open

Four-time winner in Roland-Garros, where she defeated Kim Clijsters in 2003, Mary Pierce in 2005, Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2006 and Ana Ivanovic in 2007, Henin became the first player, at 25, to stop her career while holding the number one rank.

James Blake, David Nalbandian and Nicolás Almagro proceeded to the next round in straight sets, while Andy Murray needed almost three hours to beat French wild card Jonathan Eysseric 6–2, 1–6, 4–6, 6–0, 6–2.

[13][14][16][17][18] (Pictures, Quotes, from Day 1) In the women's event, Jelena Janković, Karin Knapp, Ágnes Szávay and Patty Schnyder all advanced, along with Venus Williams, who lost a set against Tzipora Obziler before eventually winning the match 6–3, 4–6, 6–2.

Marcos Baghdatis, who had been injured since Indian Wells lost to Simone Bolelli, and 2007 French Open quarterfinalist Guillermo Cañas was also upset in straight sets and three tie-breaks by Wayne Odesnik.

[24][25][26] In the men's singles, Nikolay Davydenko and Stanislas Wawrinka won in straight sets, whereas Juan Mónaco was upset by Robin Söderling, and Mario Ančić defeated Andreas Seppi.

[24][27] (Pictures, Quotes, from Day 3) Seventy-four matches were programmed to compensate for the rain delays, allowing Francesca Schiavone, Elena Dementieva, Flavia Pennetta, Katarina Srebotnik, Vera Zvonareva, Anna Chakvetadze, Nadia Petrova, Maria Kirilenko, Victoria Azarenka and Anabel Medina Garrigues to advance, along with world No.

Ninth seed Marion Bartoli, who led Casey Dellacqua when their match was stopped on day three, eventually lost, while Sybille Bammer fell to Aleksandra Wozniak, and Shahar Pe'er to Samantha Stosur.

[28][29][30] In the men's event, Radek Štěpánek, Lleyton Hewitt, David Ferrer, Jarkko Nieminen, Dmitry Tursunov, Ivan Ljubičić, Mikhail Youzhny and Igor Andreev advanced, as well as defending champion Rafael Nadal, who survived a first set scare to eventually overpower qualifier Thomaz Bellucci 7–5, 6–3, 6–1.

In the meantime, Amélie Mauresmo lost to Carla Suárez Navarro, Ai Sugiyama was defeated by Olga Govortsova, Maria Kirilenko was beaten by Zheng Jie, and Anna Chakvetadze became the highest seed to fall on day five, when she was upset by Kaia Kanepi in straight sets.

[35][42] On the men's side, Lukáš Dlouhý & Leander Paes, Jonas Björkman & Kevin Ullyett, Daniel Nestor & Nenad Zimonjić, Mariusz Fyrstenberg & Marcin Matkowski, Marcelo Melo & André Sá, Jonathan Erlich & Andy Ram, and No.

[5] In the men's draw, Novak Djokovic and Paul-Henri Mathieu advanced to the fourth round, along with Rafael Nadal, who breezed by Jarkko Nieminen, Nicolás Almagro, who overcame Andy Murray in almost three hours, on the score of 6–3, 6–7(3), 6–3, 7–5, Fernando Verdasco, who defeated Mikhail Youzhny 7–6(5), 5–7, 7–5, 6–1, and French wild card Jérémy Chardy, who continued his run in the tournament by upsetting Dmitry Tursunov.

[44][50][51][52] In the women's doubles field, favorites Yung-jan Chan & Chia-jung Chuang, Nathalie Dechy & Elena Likhovtseva, Tatiana Poutchek & Anastasia Rodionova, Zi Yan & Zheng Jie, Dinara Safina & Ágnes Szávay, Victoria Azarenka & Shahar Pe'er, Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur, Květa Peschke & Rennae Stubbs and Katarina Srebotnik & Ai Sugiyama all proceeded to the second round, whereas defending champions Alicia Molik & Mara Santangelo were upset in their first match by unseeded Sara Errani & Bethanie Mattek.

[44][53] (Pictures, Quotes, from Day 6) Victoria Azarenka, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Jelena Janković qualified for the fourth round alongside Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva and Vera Zvonareva, at the expense of Francesca Schiavone, Nadia Petrova and Dominika Cibulková.

Nathalie Dechy & Elena Likhovtseva were defeated by unseeded team Sorana Cîrstea & Aravane Rezaï, second-seeded Katarina Srebotnik & Ai Sugiyama lost to Ashley Harkleroad & Galina Voskoboeva, and Iveta Benešová & Janette Husárová were beaten by Natalie Grandin & Raquel Kops-Jones.

1 doubles duo and 2003 French Open champions Bob & Mike Bryan cruised to the third round of the men's draw, along with Daniel Nestor & Nenad Zimonjić, Jonathan Erlich & Andy Ram, and Simon Aspelin & Julian Knowle.

Favorites Jeff Coetzee & Wesley Moodie were upset in straight sets by Serbian pair Janko Tipsarević & Victor Troicki, Brazilian team Marcelo Melo & André Sá lost to Rajeev Ram & Bobby Reynolds, and fifteen-seeded Christopher Kas & Rogier Wassen retired against tall opponents John Isner & Sam Querrey.

[61][63][64] In the women's doubles, Tatiana Poutchek & Anastasia Rodionova were upset in three sets by Casey Dellacqua & Francesca Schiavone in their second round match, while Anabel Medina Garrigues & Virginia Ruano Pascual, Alona & Kateryna Bondarenko, Květa Peschke & Rennae Stubbs, and Dinara Safina & Ágnes Szávay won theirs.

In the third round encounters, sixth seeds Victoria Azarenka & Shahar Pe'er defeated Chinese team Peng Shuai & Sun Tiantian after three sets, Cara Black & Liezel Huber beat Mariya Koryttseva & Vladimíra Uhlířová, and unseeded pair Nuria Llagostera Vives & María José Martínez Sánchez upset Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur.

[61][65] On the men's side, Bob & Mike Bryan, and Daniel Nestor & Nenad Zimonjić qualified without problems for the quarterfinals, alongside Jonas Björkman & Kevin Ullyett, whereas ninth seeds Lukáš Dlouhý & Leander Paes were eliminated by South American duo Pablo Cuevas & Luis Horna, and Australian Open champions Jonathan Erlich & Andy Ram lost to Bruno Soares & Dušan Vemić.

Second-seeded Květa Peschke & Pavel Vízner proceeded to the quarterfinals, alongside unseeded teams Janette Husárová & André Sá, Kateryna Bondarenko & Jordan Kerr, and wild cards Virginie Razzano & Rogier Wassen.

Despite their second round win in the morning, Zi Yan & Mark Knowles decided to withdraw from the mixed competition, allowing Liezel Huber & Jamie Murray to secure a quarterfinal spot.

[61] (Pictures, Quotes, from Day 8) In the women's draw, Elena Dementieva came back from the loss of the second set to defeat compatriot Vera Zvonareva 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, and reach her first quarterfinal spot in a Grand Slam since 2006.

[67][71] On the women's side, Yung-jan Chan & Chia-jung Chuang proceeded to the quarterfinals, alongside Anabel Medina Garrigues & Virginia Ruano Pascual who beat Zi Yan & Zheng Jie, unseeded Casey Dellacqua & Francesca Schiavone, who upset third seeds Květa Peschke & Rennae Stubbs, and Alona & Kateryna Bondarenko, who defeated ninth-seeded Dinara Safina & Ágnes Szávay.

1 seeds Cara Black & Liezel Huber defeated all-Spanish team Nuria Llagostera Vives & María José Martínez Sánchez in straight sets, in the first quarterfinal encounter of the women's doubles.

[73][79] In the first quarterfinal matches of the mixed doubles, unseeded team Zheng Jie & Mahesh Bhupathi defeated wild cards Virginie Razzano & Rogier Wassen, and second seeds Květa Peschke & Pavel Vízner overcame Janette Husárová & André Sá.

[73] (Pictures, Quotes, from Day 10) The third quarter of the women's draw was a rematch of the 2001 French Open girls' singles final, but the unseeded twenty-two-year-old Estonian Kaia Kanepi, victor in 2001, was defeated this time by her opponent Svetlana Kuznetsova, now the WTA No.

Kuznetsova's loss, following Sharapova's fourth round exit, meant that the second semifinal between Australian Open finalist and Indian Wells Tier I titlist Ana Ivanovic and Rome winner Jelena Janković was bound to decide who would be the next world No.

After losing the first set to unseeded Russian pair Igor Kunitsyn & Dmitry Tursunov, second seeded Daniel Nestor, the defending champion, & new partner Nenad Zimonjić battled to take back the advantage, ultimately winning the match, and reach their first Grand Slam final together on the score of 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.

The second semifinal was played in the afternoon, and saw Victoria Azarenka & Bob Bryan defeat Czech team Květa Peschke & Pavel Vízner 4–6, 6–3, 10–8, to advance to their first Grand Slam mixed doubles final together.

The unseeded South Americans completely dominated the seasoned champions during the final, breaking them twice in each set, never losing their serve themselves, to crush Nestor & Zimonjic in only fifty-six minutes, on the score of 6–2, 6–3, and win their first doubles title together.

Katarina Srebotnik knocked Serena Williams out of the French Open in the third round. Her triumph ensured that there would be a new champion in 2008.
Women's doubles semifinalist Alona Bondarenko