The 2008 French Open is set to be as exciting as in the years past with Rafael Nadal and Justine Henin as defending men's and women's singles champions.
 
Both Justine Henin and Rafael Nadal reaffirmed their clay court excellence, with both champions claiming the crown for the third year in a row. Henin went through the tournament methodically without losing a set, played perhaps the best tennis of her clay court career, and displayed more flair and flexibility in her game than ever before. In turn, after going through a divorce and missing the Australian Open at the start of the 2007 campaign, she seemed to extend her appeal to a larger segment of the public who now seem to find her more human and likeable. Nadal dropped only one set in seven matches, casting aside Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the last three rounds with his inimitable style and personality. Here he is at 21 with three titles already in his collection, and yet Nadal competes and comports himself like a much older and seasoned champion. What a pair of role models they are.

But this tournament was not only a showcase for Nadal and Henin to perform once more with panache and unswerving intensity. It was a time for one aspiring champion to emerge on the Parisian stage, and for another established figure to reemerge. The immensely gifted Serbian Novak Djokovic reached the penultimate round for the first time at a Grand Slam event, and gave Nadal what was in many ways the Spaniard's toughest test. And two time Grand Slam tournament winner Maria Sharapova- back from a shoulder injury which required cortisone injections- got to her first semifinal at Roland Garros with grit and gumption.