2008 French Open – Women's Singles 2008 French Open – Women's Singles Justine Henin was the three-time defending champion, but she retired from the sport on May 14, 2008. Her retirement left Serena Williams as the only former French Open champion remaining in the women's draw. Williams was defeated in the third round by Katarina Srebotnik, meaning that there would be a first-time French Open champion in 2008. Ana Ivanovic, the runner-up to Henin in 2007, won her first and only Grand Slam singles title, beating first-time finalist Dinara Safina, 6–4, 6–3 in the final. Ivanovic became the new WTA No. 1 singles ranking by reaching
2008 US Open (tennis) Briton, male or female, since Greg Rusedski at the 1997 Open to reach the final of a Grand Slam singles tournament. Nadal, who was also playing in his first US Open semifinal, said that, with the number of matches he had played recently taken into consideration, he was pleased with his overall performance at the Open. Had the match gone to seeding, Nadal would have been facing his rival, Federer, for a third time in a Grand Slam final in 2008, after having already beaten him at the French Open and Wimbledon. The women's singles final was also played, and