2018 Internationaux de France Ladies Preview

Evgenia Medvedeva, Bradie Tennell, Rika Kihira, Mai Mihara, and Stanislava Konstantinova vie for the last spots at the Grand Prix Final

The last stop on the Grand Prix series is always one of the most anticipated. No matter who's participating, it determines the remaining Grand Prix Final entries, and in Grenoble this weekend there is an especially nail-biting lineup.

Two-time World champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia, will be looking forward to shrug off the bronze medal she earned at Skate Canada earlier this season. While a good result for almost anyone else in the world, Medvedeva must have felt disappointed with the third-place finish given that she's previously never placed lower than second in her entire senior career.

Bradie Tennell, the US National champion and the only American lady at this event, is also looking to grab a medal in France after finishing a disappointing fourth at Skate America. Tennell made an uncharacteristic mistake in her short program when she failed to complete a triple Lutz-triple loop combination and only performed a single loop instead.

If Tennell does not make the podium in France this weekend, it will be the first time an American lady does not earn a Grand Prix medal. In order to qualify for the Grand Prix Final, Tennell must win.

Rika Kihira of Japan is coming off of a momentous win at the NHK Trophy earlier this year. She earned the second-highest free skate score of the season with two clean triple Axels. Kihira again has the highest base value of this event and, if she wins here, will be the only other woman to win both of her events other than Olympic Champion Alina Zagitova.

Stanislava Konstatinova of Russia won a surprise silver medal at the Grand Prix Helsinki earlier this season. If she places at least second here in France, she will also qualify for the Grand Prix Final.

Mai Mihara of Japan is also coming off of a strong showing at the NHK Trophy where she finished fourth with a score over 200 points. With a win here, she will be able to qualify for the Grand Prix Final for the first time.

Also in contention for the podium are Laurine Lecavelier of France, Maé-Bérénice Méité of France, Lea Serna of France, Marin Honda of Japan, Maria Sotskova of Russia, Matilda Algotsson of Sweden and Alexia Paganini of Switzerland.

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