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Still no roof at French, where Week 1 could be wet

By WTOP Staff

HOWARD FENDRICH
AP Tennis Writer

PARIS (AP) — The French Open draw ceremony began with a video showing an artist’s rendering of what the tournament site is expected to look like in a couple of years, including a planned retractable roof atop the main stadium.

For now, though, Roland Garros is the same as it’s been, meaning the rain that’s predicted to fall throughout Week 1 will play havoc with the schedule at the clay-court tournament, which begins Sunday.

“We’ll see how it’s going to be with the weather,” said Roger Federer, whose 17 Grand Slam titles include the 2009 French Open. “I heard it’s going to be quite difficult, especially the first week with the amount of matches there are to be played. It’s clearly going to have an impact.”

As it is, the French Open presents a particular test, because of the grueling nature of playing on red clay, where points tend to be longer than on hard or grass courts.

Federer knows that dealing properly with the stops and starts is essential.

“Sometimes the rain starts at a very bad moment either for you or for the opponent or for the spectators — at the worst moment of the match. So … you just need to win those matches one way or another, however you do it,” he said. “Even if it’s not good tennis, it doesn’t matter.”

Sprinkles fell Friday, and eight-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal said: “Hopefully the weather will be better.”

A look at five things to know about the year’s second Grand Slam tournament when the clouds clear:

NADAL THE ‘No. 1 FAVORITE’: For all of his struggles in the run-up to the 15-day tournament — his three losses on clay are the most for him in any season in a decade — his competition still considers the Spaniard the “No. 1 favorite to win the tournament,” as Novak Djokovic put it. Nadal, 59-1 at Roland Garros, is trying to become the first man to win the French Open five consecutive years. He acknowledged feeling “nerves” and “anxiety” after quarterfinal losses at Monte Carlo and Barcelona this spring, but said reaching the final in Rome made him think “the dynamic is positive.”

DJOKOVIC’S TURN?: The second-seeded Serb reached the semifinals five of the past seven years, but it’s the only major trophy missing from his collection. Djokovic said he derived a boost last weekend from beating Nadal on clay at Rome, “something that doesn’t happen every day.” But Djokovic is 0-5 against Nadal in Paris, including losses in the 2013 semifinals and 2012 final. “Knowing that I have gotten closer and closer each year to the title gives me enough reason to be confident,” Djokovic said. As for Djokovic’s chances of completing a career Grand Slam, three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander said: “It’s just a matter of time, you would think.”

OTHER CONTENDERS: Federer practiced Friday with Stan Wawrinka, his friend and gold-medalist doubles partner for Switzerland at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Their names are about the only ones that get mentioned when the topic is who, other than Nadal or Djokovic, could be a factor for the June 8 men’s final. At No. 3, thanks in large part to his Australian Open title in January, Wawrinka is seeded ahead of No. 4 Federer at a Grand Slam for the first time. “I’m one of the favorites,” Wawrinka said, “but I wouldn’t say I’m the top favorite. I’m so far from Nadal, so far from Djokovic.” The potential semifinals are Nadal-Wawrinka and Djokovic-Federer.

WILLIAMS VS. WILLIAMS: Time was, Serena and Venus Williams played each other in Grand Slam final after Grand Slam final, four in a row starting at the 2002 French Open. Serena won that, and added a second French Open trophy last year, part of a 53-2 record on clay since the start of 2012. There could be an all-Williams matchup in the third round in Paris, which would be the sisters’ earliest meeting at a major since the 1998 Australian Open. If Serena beats Venus, she could face 2012 champion Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals, a rematch of last year’s final.

WAITING FOR A FRENCH CHAMP: During Friday’s draw, the president of the French tennis federation, Jean Gachassin, referenced how long it’s been since a local man won the title — 1983, when Yannick Noah (father of current NBA player Joakim) did it. “Personally, I keep thinking and dreaming of success for a French player here,” Gachassin said. “Why not this year?”

___

Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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