French Open Preview: Day Four
Posted by Aaress Lawless on May 27, 2008 | Print | Email | Bookmark | Free Subscription
Only eight women’s singles matches were completed on Tuesday at Roland Garros, forcing tournament organizers to plan an ambitious schedule of play for Wednesday.
Weather permitting, players from both sides of the women’s draw will hit the courts on Wednesday, including top seed Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.
Aaress’ Picks for Wednesday
(1) Maria Sharapova vs. Evgeniya Rodina
Although she has described herself in the past as a “cow on ice,” Maria Sharapova’s clay court game has improved with every season. She still has not managed to get sliding down to an art, but she is comfortable at the net and has started using the angles more to her advantage.
Unlike many other Russians, Sharapova feels no pressure when facing her countrywomen, so look for her to stroll into the second round in just two sets.
Maria Sharapova in 2 sets
(2) Ana Ivanovic vs. Lucie Safarova
Lucie Safarova has been known to save some of her best tennis for Grand Slams, so Ivanovic will need to dominate the pace from the start. The second seed struggled in her first round match, but still managed to get past Sofia Arvidsson by avoiding a tiebreak for 6-2, 7-5. Ivanovic may have a few more rounds to get accustomed to the conditions in Paris before running into a seeded player, yet she needs to start projecting the confidence that makes her a favorite for the title.
Ana Ivanovic in 2 sets
(6) Anna Chakvetadze vs. Nuria Llagostera Vives
While the big four–Maria, Ana, Jelena, and Serena–are being touted as title favorites, I like Anna Chakvetadze’s chances of making some noise in Paris. She is in the top half of the draw with Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova, but if her fellow Russians tumble, she’ll have a good chance of reaching the semifinals.
Although Vives is ranked almost eighty spots beneath Chakvetadze, both of their previous meetings have been close and gone to three sets.
Anna Chakvetadze in 2 sets
(9) Marion Bartoli vs. Casey Dellacqua
The last Grand Slam was one of the best ten days of Casey Dellacqua’s young career. She thrilled her local fans in Melbourne with a run to the fourth round and since then she has risen to a career high of No. 51.
Casey is the same age as her opponent, Marion Bartoli, although far less experienced. Bartoli has not been able to recapture the form that led her to the Wimbledon final in 2007, yet she has managed to return to the Top 10. If Marion’s wrist has completely healed, she’ll be able to weather Dellacqua’s pounding onslaught. If not, look for Dellacqua to score her first Top 10 upset.
Casey Dellacqua in 3 sets
(25) Nadia Petrova vs. Aravane Rezai
It has been two years since Rezai took Paris by storm with a run to the fourth round, and this year, she has already posted solid results with a runner-up trophy in Auckland and a semifinal finish in Fes. Facing a seed in the first round is hardly an ideal draw at a major, but Nadia Petrova is currently about as inconsistent as they come. Petrova’s already infamous mental game is at an all-time low, and she has only posted six wins in almost as many months this season.
Aravane Rezai in 3 sets
She Said What?
Svetlana Kuznetsova about her disappointment regarding Justine Henin’s retirement:
“What you want me to say? I’m happy she left or I’m not happy I cannot battle her again? (laughter.) Which one you want to hear?
No, I mean it’s happened. It’s past. It’s past. I cannot change it. You know, she decided to leave. I respect that, and that’s it, you know.
I’m not going to say I’m happy; I’m not going to say I’m sad because I’m not going to play her again. It’s not about that. It’s just about one more great player leaving the game.”
What Else is Happening in Paris?
All About Doubles
The doubles and mixed doubles draws are available at the Roland Garros website.
Sugiyama matches major record
Ai Sugiyama has competed in fifty-six consecutive Grand Slams.
USA Television Schedule
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
First/Second Round - TTC - 5:00 am - 12:00 pm (LIVE)
Early Round Coverage Day #4 - ESPN2 - 12:00 pm - 6:30 pm (LIVE)
All times are Eastern.
Don’t forget to enter On the Baseline’s Pick the Winner’s contest! The entry deadline for Wednesday’s featured match is 4:00 am ET.
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Diane | May 27, 2008 | Reply
I agree with Jon Wertheim that Safarova, no matter how badly she’s playing, tends to bring her best tennis to the majors. Go figure. I think she’ll take a set, at the least. And I think Chakvetadze would be fairly vulnerable to Llagostera Vives in fair weather; however, the balls are going to be heavy, and that could be a problem for Llagostera Vives. But one way or the other, I expect LV to take a set.
Aaress Lawless | May 28, 2008 | Reply
The weather conditions have been really challenging; not only are the balls flying heavy, but the wind is also a factor.
Alice | May 29, 2008 | Reply
You picked correctly Aaress. Casey did indeed win in 3. Although Marion losing in 3 has been a predictable pattern for a while now.
Have a good day.
pov | May 29, 2008 | Reply
Kuznetsova’s candor is refreshing -vno mean-spiritedness, no defensiveness, no “media friendly sound bite”