2008 French Open Quarterfinals Preview

The odds are leaning towards the coronation of a new Grand Slam champion on Saturday. Svetlana Kuznetsova is the only major champion left in the draw. Can the Serbs step up? Will the veterans get another chance at glory? Or will a qualifier continue her Cinderella run?

Brace yourselves. The competition is only about to heat up.

Patty Schnyder [10] v Ana Ivanovic [2]
Head to Head: Schnyder leads 4-3
Patty Schnyder found herself outside of the top ten at the end of last season after staying there for two consecutive years. Ana Ivanovic, on the other hand debuted in the top ten, finishing the year at number four.

The events are not coincidental. They are in fact indicative of the evolution of playing styles in the women’s game over time.

Both women move well on court, have good variety but Ana Ivanovic has greater fire power. That one difference has allowed the Serb to thrive better in an era where the big hitters rule the game. Despite the added bonus of being a lefty, Schnyder’s guile and court sense can’t compensate for her limitation on power especially against a player like Ivanovic.

However, Schnyder is still capable of damage on clay, where the red dirt neutralizes some of that power. Proving that theory, she has reached the fourth round or better in Roland Garros seven times. She has gone further in Melbourne, but it is in Roland Garros that she has been the most consistent. Her clay court prowess would come handy when she faces Ivanovic.

Ana, however, has one more advantage over Patty–mental toughness. Patty has long been considered a choker, a head case. Ivanovic is tougher mentally. Granted that Ana fell apart in the final last year, she is not playing in a Grand Slam final just yet. Ivanovic is expected to handle the pressure without any trouble, at least better than Schnyder.
Prediction: Ana Ivanovic

Carla Suarez Navarro v Jelena Jankovic [3]
First Meeting
Jelena Jankovic has been competing week after week despite criticism. She has given some lip service about fixing her schedule, but no tangible change has been made, so far. Part of the reason perhaps is the absence of grave consequence for the way she is pushing her body to the limits.

That is about to change.

In her second round match against Erakovic her forehand became sore, enough to call for the trainer. She refused to have it taped, instead she demanded for massage and painkillers. Against Radwanska it was already taped for “precaution.” In the same match, she again had to call for the trainer, this time for a shoulder problem that probably was secondary to the not fully functioning forearm.

She was fortunate to have won that match but as she heads into her quarterfinal match, Jankovic must be really starting to think about whether all those match plays are worth spoiling her best shot at winning a Grand Slam.

Carla Suarez Navarro is surely aware of Jelena’s injury troubles and will go out on Tuesday with the full intention of exploiting that weakness. The Spaniard is having a Cinderella run in Roland Garros.

Before Paris, she had only played in a WTA Tour main draw twice. Then all of a sudden, she’s grabbing attention on her Grand Slam debut. Wins over Amelie Mauresmo and Flavia Pennetta have boosted the 132nd ranked player’s confidence. Barring fatigue due to the extra qualifying matches, Suarez Navarro is looking to continue stringing upsets.
Prediction: Carla Suarez Navarro

Svetlana Kuznetsova [4] v Kaia Kanepi
First Meeting
Svetlana Kuznetsova and Kaia Kanepi contested the 2001 Roland Garros Girl’s Championship. Kanepi prevailed in three sets. A lot has happened since that match, however.

While Kuznetsova went on to win the 2004 US Open, the Estonian former junior number one failed to find the same success in the senior tour. She had her Grand Slam main draw debut only in 2006 and never went past the third round before her surprise run in Roland Garros this year. Her best Tour performance to date is reaching the final in Hasselt two years ago.

Kanepi’s seeded victims en route to the quarterfinal are Chakvetadze [6] and Medina Garrigues [29], but her new found confidence may not be enough to beat the number four seed.

With Sharapova, the Serbian Duo and the Williams sisters drawing all the attention, Kuznetsova has quietly moved through the draw. Considering how good Azarenka was playing in Paris, Kuznetsova’s convincing victory over her in the last round is probably more impressive than Ivanovic shutting out Cetkovska.

Unless Safina keeps on winning, a fourth Slam final appearance might be within Sveta’s grasp.
Prediction: Kuznetsova

Dinara Safina [13] v Elena Dementieva [7]
Head to Head: Safina leads 3-2
Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva survived Russian cannibalism to set up a quarterfinal meeting. Dementieva outlasted Vera Zvonareva in three sets. Safina ended Maria Sharapova’s mediocre Roland Garros run by producing the most incredible comeback in the tournament so far.

Dinara is heavily favored to advance into the semifinal simply because she seems to be unstoppable these days. She is riding a ten-match winning streak, which included victories over Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Elena, herself. Dinara has finally convinced herself that she deserves to be a top player, it seems.

Not to be outdone, Dementieva is having a resurgent season of her own. She is projected to re-enter the top five next week. Still, the only way she can beat Safina is if the younger Russian suffers from a let down. The good news for Dementieva is that the last time Safina beat Sharapova in a Grand Slam, she blew a 5-1 lead over Kuznetsova in the following match. The bad news, the in-form Safina is unlikely to allow that to happen.
Prediction: Safina

Guest author jc valencia writes about tennis at www.valenciatennis.blogspot.com.

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