I managed to pick three of the four finalists at the Australian Open (Federer, Sharapova, Ivanovic), and even picked Sharapova to win. This time, I'm going more out on a limb and I can only hope to be so fortunate as in January, but here we go.

Men's Singles:

Winner: Federer

Finalist: Djokovic

I’ll be the first to admit I'm nuts to pick against Rafael Nadal on clay. The Spaniard is undefeated at Roland Garros in three appearances and has shown little, if any, chinks in his armor this spring, winning Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Hamburg. But I just have a feeling that Nadal is a little more vulnerable than in years past and that he may wear himself out getting to another final this year (famous last words when he blows away the field).

Of the Big Three, Rafa has the toughest draw with potential meetings with grinding Jarkko Nieminen in the third round, streaky Mikhail Youzhny in the fourth and always dangerous David Nalbandian in the quarters. Then the No. 2 seed could face No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who played him close in Hamburg and who won at Rome when Nadal lost early to fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero - just his second loss on clay in 110 contests. The Djoker reached the last four here a year ago, is fit, confident, athletic and has No. 7 James Blake as the highest seed in his corner, who is no big threat on dirt. Plus, I think the Serbian is closing the gap with Nadal on clay and believes he can beat him, a psychological facet so many other players lack.

On the top half, Federer has a pretty clear ride, with struggling Richard Gasquet in his quarter and increasingly dangerous Nikolay Davydenko as a possible semifinal opponent. I think the Swiss No. 1 really kicked into gear in Hamburg, beating several good players convincingly. Though Davydenko seems to be emerging from the cloud of the Sopot gambling investigation and took a big title on hard in Miami and another in Austria yesterday, I don't see him getting past Federer in best-of-five.

So the way I see it playing out: Djokovic steps up and shocks Nadal in the semis and then Roger, sensing his moment, plays one of the best matches he can muster on clay and avenges his loss to Djokvic in Australia to complete the career Grand Slam. I won't even pick a dark horse because I can't see anyone but one of these three taking the coupe de musketeers. 

In other matchups, too bad for Sam Querrey, who reached the quarterfinals at Monte Carlo but plays top-seeded Federer in the first round.

Women's Singles:

Winner: Sharapova

Finalist: Jankovic

With Henin gone, the women's field is more of a head scratcher. The bottom half of the draw is loaded, with No. 8 Venus Williams slated to play No. 3 Jelena Jankovic in one quarter and No.5 Serena Williams on course to face No. 2 Ana Ivanovic in the other.

Serena, the only former winner in the draw (2002), arrives in Paris with perhaps her best preparation since 2002, when she won the title. She won on green clay at Charleston and reached went deep at Berlin and Rome. Her body could be a factor considering her withdrawal from Rome with a bad back. Still, no one strikes fear in their opponents more than Serena, despite the fact she never quite looks fully comfortable moving on clay. Ditto Venus, who has had a shaky year and doesn't appear to be in form good enough to make it beyond the last eight.

Third-seeded Jankovic is just the kind of player that gives the Williams sisters headaches, especially on clay, where her movement and change-of-pace can cause havoc. She should be brimming with confidence after winning the big clay-court tune-up at Rome. Last year's runnerup Ivanovic should make the semifinals, but I don't think the No. 2 seed believes in herself enough to win a major. She's close, but I'm picking Jankovic to scramble her way to the final.

Unlike Melbourne, where Sharapova had to defeat Henin, Jankovic and Ivanovic, her path to the final is less pocked with obstacles. Berlin winner Dinara Safina lurks in the fourth round, followed by the resurgent Elena Dementieva, the 2004 Roland Garros runnerup. Safina still strikes me as a bit disorganized in her game, and Dementieva hasn't been deep in a major for a few years and I don't see either upending Sharapova. The other possible quarterfinalists, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anna Chakvetadze, have had mediocre seasons and so-so results on clay - nothing that suggest a run to the final. But Sveta can always get hot, and the 2006 finalist is my dark horse. She'll be off the radar and if she's swinging well is capable of beating Sharapova and taking her second major against the survivor on the upper half.

But for now, this is how I read it: In the final, Sharapova will out slug a tired Jankovic for her second major of 2008 and, like Federer, complete a career Grand Slam.

If an American woman emerges victorious, it won't be due to the strong contingent in Paris. The nine entrants this year, including qualifier Bethanie Mattek and wild card Madison Brengle, is the lowest in the post-1968 Open era for the USA.