After a week of intense competition the 2008 Roland Garros women’s field has been narrowed down to only sixteen players.
Just two former Grand Slam champions remain alive in the draw—three-time major champion Maria Sharapova and 2004 US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Aaress’ Fourth Round Picks
(1) Maria Sharapova vs. (13) Dinara Safina
Dinara Safina headed into Paris as one of the hottest players on clay with recent wins over the now-retired Justine Henin and Serena Williams in Rome. She has a 2-3 win-loss record against her fellow countrywoman Maria Sharapova, but they have not played since 2006. Given Sharapova’s struggles during the first two rounds and Safina’s vastly improved form, I like the Rome champion’s chances of scoring an upset on Monday.
Dinara Safina in three sets
(2) Ana Ivanovic vs. Petra Cetkovska
Twenty-three year-old Petra Cetkovska hails from the Czech Republic and has been having the best week of her career in only her third major. She enjoys playing close to the baseline and relies heavily on her serve and forehand. Cetkovska will be up against one of the best forehands in tennis on Sunday when she faces Ana Ivanovic. Ivanovic has improved with every match and is expected to handily advance into the quarterfinals.
Ana Ivanovic in two sets
(3) Jelena Jankovic vs. (14) Agnieszka Radwanska
As usual, Jelena Jankovic is walking wounded, but that fact alone has never kept her from winning a title. While she may be bandaged and battered from a week of competition, the world No. 3 has yet to drop a set. Don’t let the tapings and bandages fool you; Jelena Jankovic knows this may be her best chance to win a Grand Slam, and she is willing to tape or strap whatever is necessary to stay alive in Paris.
Jelena Jankovic in three sets
(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. (16) Victoria Azarenka
Former Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has been solid from the start of the French Open and remains my top half pick to reach the final. Unless Kuznetsova has a terrible day at the office, look for her to outrun and out-hit the Belarusian teenager for a spot in the final eight.
Svetlana Kuznetsova in two sets
(7) Elena Dementieva vs. (11) Vera Zvonareva
Russia has dominated the top half of the draw as five of the eight fourth round players hold Russian passports. Both Dementieva and Zvonareva are from Moscow and surprisingly, they have only faced each other three times in the past. Their last meeting was in April at Charleston, where Zvonareva won in three sets. Look for this to be an intense battle, with a dash of drama thrown in for good measure.
Elena Dementieva in 3 sets
(10) Patty Schnyder vs. (27) Katarina Srebotnik
Katarina Srebotnik scored the biggest upset of the tournament by dismissing Serena Williams and if she can keep the momentum, she’ll reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. No one on Tour looks forward to facing Patty Schnyder, a very tricky lefty, but if Srebotnik sticks to the same game plan that led her past Serena, she’ll be able to outwit the Swiss veteran and reach the final eight.
Katarina Srebotnik in 3 sets
(26) Flavia Pennetta vs. Carla Suarez Navarro
Both players knocked out a multiple Grand Slam champion on their way to the fourth round, and neither Pennetta or Suarez Navarro has ever made it this far before in Paris. Pennetta, who has won two titles on clay already this season, dismissed Venus Williams in straight sets and Suarez Navarro beat Amelie Mauresmo in the second round.
Flavia Pennetta in 2 sets
Kaia Kanepi vs. Petra Kvitova
Surprise, surprise, surprise. Kaia Kanepi and Petra Kvitova are unlikely fourth round finalists, but both have played well to reach the final sixteen in Paris. Kanepi has beaten two seeds in a row, Anna Chakvetadze and Anabel Medina Garrigues, and Kvitova upset No. 12 Agnes Szavay on Saturday. This match is tough to call, but at least it guarantees that one budding newcomer will reach the final eight at Roland Garros.
Kaia Kanepi in 2 sets
