Serena Williams Back, Ready To Go

The plot leading to the second Grand Slam of 2016 has been filled with unexpected twists and turns, but the ending is a familiar one: Can anyone beat Serena Williams at the French Open?

The question lingers like smoke over the rest week before the start at Roland Garros. The fire: Williams' 11th-hour triumph at the Italian Open on Sunday. Until she bamboozled her fellow countrywoman Madison Keys in the final in Rome, 7-6 (5), 6-3, the jury was out on Williams and her chances at the coming major.

Williams had gone nine months without a title. She took a long break after the US Open, but the reboot wasn't entirely successful. Her emotions were still raw and volatile. Williams' record in 2016 before Rome was 13-3 in just three tournaments. She showed up in a Beyonce music video instead of the Madrid Premier Mandatory tournament (she pulled out with the flu), leaving all of her French Open preparations for the last minute.

Not good omens. Then came the Italian Open. She didn't lose a set, and now the WTA landscape suddenly looks different -- but also more familiar. Like old times.

Keys was asked in her news conference after the Rome final what she thought of Williams' form going into the French Open.

"I don't think she has anything to worry about," she replied.

Williams' version: "Well, I feel really good about it. After my first few rounds, I started feeling better. I'm feeling pretty fit. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to it."