French Open women’s draw: Round of 16 preview
As we head to the business end of the tournament at Roland Garros, here is a preview of the 4th round matches from the Women’s draw.
1) Serena Williams vs Roberta Vinci
Serena Williams, having dropped only six games in her first three matches, would be the firm favourite for this encounter. Williams, having come to Paris following titles in Madrid and Rome, would dearly want to win the French Open after 11 years. 15th seeded Roberta Vinci lost out to American Jamie Hampton in Brussels last week in three tough sets, and has had to play two three set encounters in the previous rounds. Williams has faced Vinci twice before, beating her in straight sets on both occasions. However, with the form that the Italian ladies have been at Roland Garros for the past couple of years, it may not be a total cakewalk for Williams.
Prediction: Williams wins in straight sets
2) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Angelique Kerber
Kuznetsova, French Open champion in 2009, has had an easy outing in the third round against Bojana Jovonovski, winning in straight sets, but was stretched to three sets against unseeded Rybarikova in the 2nd round, whereas Kerber has come off a gruelling three-set encounter against Lepchenko. This would appear to an evenly-matched contest on paper with the Russian’s experience on one hand, and the stroke play of the southpaw on the other. These two have met twice this year, with Kerber prevailing on both occasions. Their previous encounter in Madrid went down to the wire, where Kerber held her nerve to claim the victory. Certainly, this would be one of the matches to watch out for in the 4th round.
Prediction: Kerber wins in three tough sets
3) Agnieszka Radwanska vs Ana Ivanovic
Radwanska has had it easy so far going into the tournament, winning all her matches in straight sets. However, the Wimbeldon finalist last year knows that the going would only get tough from here on. Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic will be a tricky opponent to face in the round of 16. Ivanovic has been in good form in the past months on clay, losing to Sharapova a couple of times in the warm up tournaments, although her defeat to Agnieszka’s sister Ursula in the opening round at Rome could be a mere aberration. These two have faced each other twice this year on hard courts with Radwanska coming out trumps on both occasions. However, the difference in surface could well result in a more closely-fought encounter with a different result.
Prediction: Radwanska wins in three sets
4) Carla Suarez Navarro vs Sara Errani
Last year’s finalist Sara Errani will have a tough encounter against Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro. Errani has so far not faced any difficulties in reaching the 4th round. Her opponent, meanwhile, has had to face some tough three-set encounters in the earlier rounds. These two have faced each other thrice this year, with Errani prevailing twice. However, Errani would want to take revenge for the defeat at the hands of the 20th seed at the Australian Open earlier this year. With the potency in her game on clay, Errani would be the favourite to prevail against Navarro.
Prediction: Errani wins in straight sets