WITH no Serena Williams, no Victoria Azarenka and no Maria Sharapova, the consensus among most observers is that this year’s women’s title is there for the taking.

But while Romania’s Simona Halep believes any one of 15 women are capable of claiming the crown, most know that winning seven matches in a row on the toughest surface of the lot is still an enormous task.

“Frankly, why do people keep on saying that,” asked Kristina Mladenovic, one of Halep’s 15 and a woman very much in form on the clay. “They say, OK, it’s very open. There are opportunities. There are girls that have injuries. It’s always been the case. And there will be in the future again. The only thing that changes is that Serena is not here.”

The absence of Williams undoubtedly leaves an opportunity for others, the 23-time Grand Slam champion having won 10 of the past 19 Grand Slams, since she teamed up with coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Even her presence in the draw has turned others to stone at times, so the fact that she is not in Paris as she takes maternity leave means others will feel this is their big chance.

Having won in Madrid and reached the final in Rome, Halep is the favourite on paper and her experience should help, having finished runner-up in Paris in 2014.

The weight of expectation has often proved too much of a burden for Halep, a tendency to be too harsh on herself creating an air of negativity that, more often than not, she has been unable to shake. But some clear-the-air talks with her coach, Darren Cahill, after they broke up briefly in Miami, appears to have worked.

In Miami and Rome, she looked very much the woman to beat and even a turned ankle, which she says is improving, is not enough to dampen her spirits.

“I changed my mind after Miami,” she said, referring to her new mental state. “So I stay with the positive, I take it like it is every day and to see what can I do here. Because it’s going to be tough. But I’m ready.”

Though the field seems open, it should be pointed out that six women in the draw have won Grand Slam titles – world No 1 Angelique Kerber, Venus Williams, Petra Kvitova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sam Stosur and – lest we forget – defending champion Garbine Muguruza.

After a poor start to 2017, Muguruza reached the semi-finals in Rome and, though she pulled out with a neck injury there, she is a big-time player, as she showed in reaching the Wimbledon final in 2015.

Like Halep and world No 1 Kerber, dealing with the magnitude of her achievements has not been easy but seeing Williams not on the draw may just relax her.

“I think it makes a difference, because . . . Serena is always in the final,” she said. “I feel like there is 10, 15 girls that can win the trophy. So that’s not normal. Before it was not like that. There was always like few favourites. It’s kind of weird to have a lot more. But this year is very open. I feel like a lot of people can win.”

If there is a form horse then it is surely Elina Svitolina, the young Ukrainian who has won four titles this year, including Rome when she saw off the ailing Halep. A superb athlete, she may not have the power of some of her rivals, but she possesses the kind of tactical nous that is so crucial on clay and confidence will not be an issue.

Kvitova is back, less than six months after suffering an horrific attack in her home, delighted to be here but with expectations understandably modest.

Venus Williams, now 36, has made the final in Paris just once, way back in 2002, but having made the Melbourne final in January, she will harbour hopes of another big run, as will the 2009 champion Kuznetsova.

Britain’s lone woman in the draw, seventh seed Johanna Konta, has not enjoyed the clay court season much but plays Hsieh Su-wei in round one.