No Federer, Serena, Sharapova, no problem for Roland Garros

Roland Garros organisers are confident that the absence from the 2017 French Open of Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will just be a footnote when the story of the second major of the season is told.

"The absence of these three stars does not weaken the tournament because Roland Garros remains an institution and the Holy Grail for a player," French tennis historian Jean- Christophe Piffau told AFP.

"The Grand Slam tournaments are anchored in the history of tennis, which is what makes them both special and prized." With that in mind,

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