Kuznetsova held a set and 4-1 lead in the third set, but could not close out the match for a spot in the quarterfinals.

This has been a devastating Grand Slam for the tournament’s top four seeds. Second seed Maria Sharapova lost in the second round, top seed Ana Ivanovic fell in the third, and third seed Jelena Jankovic fell along with Kuznetsova in the fourth round today.

In an earlier match on day seven at the Championships, Serena Williams defeated her countrywoman Bethanie Mattek in straight sets. Williams, a two-time former champion at Wimbledon, needed just over one hour to defeat Mattek 6-3, 6-3.

Radwanska will play Serena Williams in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

A full day of tennis is scheduled for the second Monday of the tournament, including three matches for Venus and Serena Williams on Court No. 2—also known as the Graveyard of Champions. Shortly after their singles matches, Venus and Serena will return to the same court to play doubles.

(2) Jelena Jankovic vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn
Two weeks ago, Tamarine Tanasugarn would have sounded like an unlikely player in the fourth round of a Grand Slam. But since winning the Ordina Open, the Thai veteran is playing some of the best tennis of her career. At thirty-one years of age, Tanasugarn is just one match away from her best run at a major–if she can get past Jankovic.

Jelena Jankovic is beginning to remind me of Kim Clijsters because of their joint propensity to injury and struggles at majors. I do believe that Jankovic has an opportunity to win the title, but the big question is whether she can stay healthy enough to win four more matches.
Jelena Jankovic in 3 sets

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. (14) Agnieszka Radwanska
On paper, Kuznetsova should win this match, but that was also the same thing that should have happened in their last meeting at a major. Radwanska booted Kuznetsova out of the Australian Open in January, although this time, it is safe to assume that Svetlana will be a little more wary of the Polish teenager’s crafty game.
Svetlana Kuznetsova in 3 sets

(5) Elena Dementieva vs. (24) Shahar Peer
Peer has been stuck in a slump for most of 2008, so this is a good sign to see her back in the fourth round of a major. The Israeli has a solid serve and baseline game, but her biggest weakness is her temperament. She can be somewhat of a hothead on court, which could give her trouble against Dementieva, one of the Tour’s most patient players.
Elena Dementieva in 3 sets

(6) Serena Williams vs. Bethanie Mattek
I’m not superstitious, but even I have to admit that it is a bad stroke of luck when the remaining two former Wimbledon champions both get scheduled for the Graveyard court on the same day. Serena admitted a few days ago after her last match on Court No. 2 that the thought of an upset crossed her mind, so it is safe to presume that she will look to get off the court quickly on Monday.

Bethanie Mattek struggles with consistency and this could be her downfall against Serena. Serena has been streaky over the past three rounds, so I expect Mattek to win a few games, yet she does not have enough variety and power to stop Serena for good.
Serena Williams in 2 sets

(7) Venus Williams vs. Alisa Kleybanova
Next up on the Graveyard of Champions is last year’s winner Venus Williams. Fans holding tickets for Court No. 2 are in for a rare treat, although they may be unfamiliar with Venus’ opponent. Alisa Kleybanova of Russia is making her debut at the Championships and has already scored wins over Tzipora Obziler, Daniela Hantuchova, and Ai Sugiyama.

Kleybanova considers grass one of her favorite surfaces, but she must play the match of her life if she wants to beat Venus, who set a new Wimbledon women’s record for the fastest serve (127 mph) in her third round match.
Venus Williams in 2 sets

(8) Anna Chakvetadze vs. (18) Nicole Vaidisova
This will be a loud match–and I’m not referring to the crowd. Anna Chakvetadze and Nicole Vaidisova are two of the most emotional players inside the top 50, so fans will hear outbursts in Russian, German, Czech, and probably a little English. Expect the winner to be the woman who beats herself up the least.
Anna Chakvetadze in 3 sets

(15) Agnes Szavay vs. Jie Zheng
Agnes Szavay was one of the best stories during the fall of 2007, but so far in 2008, her performance has only been average. Her third round match against Anabel Medina Garrigues was hampered by thirty-one unforced errors and eight double-faults, while Jie Zheng’s play against Ana Ivanovic was near-perfect textbook tennis.
Jie Zheng in 3 sets

(21) Nadia Petrova vs. Alla Kudryavtseva
After watching Nadia Petrova fall from No. 5 to almost outside the Top 30, it is good to see her back in contention at a major. One of the best players never to win a Slam, Nadia Petrova is surprisingly wearing Venus Williams’ EleVen line at Wimbledon.

Alla Kudryavtseva is still cruising after her second round win over Maria Sharapova, so this is a winnable match for the talkative Russian. She won several new fans after that victory—and made a few enemies because of her post-match comments about Maria’s personality and tuxedo outfit.
Nadia Petrova in 2 sets

Top seed Ana Ivanovic aims to keep her back-to-back Grand Slam title pursuit alive as she faces France’s Nathalie Dechy on Wednesday.

Tania’s Picks for Wednesday

1 – Ana Ivanovic (SRB) vs. Nathalie Dechy (FRA)
No signs of the yips yet from the racket of Ivanovic, who lost only three games in the previous round. She won 76% of the points off her 1st serve and looks quite convincing on grass. Nathalie Dechy pulled through her match against Meng Yuan of China, despite producing an unflattering 32 unforced errors. Ivanovic should be too good for the Frenchwoman.
Ana Ivanovic in 2 sets

4 – Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR)
Both girls struggled in their first round matches, needing three sets to dispose of their opponents. Bondarenko has not had a great singles record at the Grand Slam level. She has a potential clash with sister Alona in the third round if she is successful here, and this will likely serve as a motivation to progress.

Svetlana has reached the quarters previously, and based on her semifinal showing in France, will similarly be keen to move into the second week at Wimbledon, despite her inconsistency at times.
Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2 sets

18 – Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) vs. Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Nicole and Sam only lost four games in their respective matches; each progressing through quite comfortably. Nicole’s form has been shaky of late, evident in her first round loss at the French Open. The Czech is however a past quarterfinalist at The Championships. Stosur has not played this well for some time and coming off a semifinal appearance at Eastbourne last week, expect an upset here.
Samantha Stosur in 3 sets

29 – Amelie Mauresmo vs. Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP)
Mauresmo beat American Ashley Harkleroad in the first round and now faces Ruano Pascual in the second round. Virginia is an established doubles player (winning 9 Grand slam doubles titles) but should not cause Amelie any trouble here. Despite the Frenchwoman’s slip in the seedings this year, she should move into the next round.
Amelie Mauresmo in 2 sets

She Said What?

Lindsay Davenport about her injured knee:
“It’s been bothering me now for a few weeks. It’s coming more from the back of the knee. Did an MRI and it looked good. In the latter stages of the second set I definitely felt like it was getting worse. I didn’t feel great in the third. Luckily I was able to, you know, hit some good shots and go for winners.

I actually felt like I started hitting the ball a little bit better because I felt like I needed to do more with it. I’m just hoping it pulls up well. Some days it feels okay, and other days it is a problem. This morning it was definitely more swollen and a little bit of a problem. Two days ago it felt perfect. It’s frustrating. I’m not really sure what to say every day.”

What Else is Happening at Wimbledon?

The Places to Be
Steve Tignor at Tennis Elbow gives a first-hand look at the courts of Wimbledon.

Tennis stars visit new Habitat for Humanity homes in Peckham
Agnes Szavay and Maria Kirilenko helped deliver Whirlpool products to be installed in new Habitat for Humanity homes.

USA Television Schedule

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Early Round Day 3 - ESPN2 - 7:00 am - 5:00 pm (LIVE)

*All times are Eastern.

A few players dazzled, but the rest reminded us that the largest room in the world is the room for improvement.

(1) Ana Ivanovic
The top seed remains a class act, both off and on the court. While I’m not convinced that she can beat the Williams sisters or Sharapova on these fast lawns, Ivanovic looks like an easy lock to reach the semifinals.

(2) Jelena Jankovic
As unbelievable as it may seem, Jelena Jankovic has actually headed to Wimbledon rested and healthy. She resisted the urge to compete at Birmingham, Eastbourne, or s’-Hertogenbosch, which means that she might actually last ten days without reciting a litany of aches and pains.

(3) Maria Sharapova
It was a solid opening round performance for the former champion, although she did struggle a little in the second set. On the fashion front, I found myself agreeing with Brad Gilbert for the first time in a long while as I’m also not impressed with the tuxedo shorts look.

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova
About the only thing positive to say about Kuznetsova’s first round match is that she somehow managed to win. Kuznetsova’s inconsistency continues to hurt her at majors and if her opening match is any indication of the future, she’ll be out before the week is over.

(5) Elena Dementieva
At the time this was published, Dementieva was the only seed still battling in the first round. When the match was suspended on Tuesday, Dementieva held a 6-3, 3-3 lead over Maria Elena Camerin. Most impressively, she has a 74% first serve percentage and zero double faults.

(6) Serena Williams
Kaia Kanepi was a tough customer for Serena in the opening round, but after shaking off some excess rust, the former champ still escaped in two sets. I’m not going to label it a shoddy performance, but Serena has plenty of room for improvement.

(7) Venus Williams
Compared to her first round last season, Venus did well to shut Naomi Cavaday down in the tiebreak. Still, like her sister, she needs another few rounds to hit her groove.

(8) Anna Chakvetadze
For about 30 minutes on Monday, I thought we’d see a double Russian exit with the upsets of Kuznetsova and Chakvetadze. Both women lived to fight another day, but given Chakvetadze’s lack of confidence, she might not be so fortunate next time.

(9) Dinara Safina
It is too early to tell if Safina’s upset in the final at the Ordina Open was a momentary fluke or a sign of exhaustion. If it is the latter, she’ll have a tough task ahead of her with Dementieva, Shahar Peer, and an injured, but still dangerous Lindsay Davenport in her quarter.

(10) Daniela Hantuchova
Big accolades go to Hantuchova, who successfully returned to the Tour with a straight sets victory over Sara Errani after spending two months on the injured list.

Helmed by No. 2 Jelena Jankovic, the bottom half also includes 2004 champion Maria Sharapova, 1999 winner Lindsay Davenport, and four-time champion Venus Williams.

Venus and Serena Williams are on opposite sides of the draw, potentially leading to an All-Williams championship match. They have not met at Wimbledon since the final in 2003 which Serena won in three sets.

Three first round matches merit close watching during the opening two days of play. Serena Williams, a two-time winner at Wimbledon, is expected to begin her campaign against Kaia Kanepi, a quarterfinalist earlier this month at the French Open.

Defending champion Venus Williams pulled British hopeful and wild card Naomi Cavaday, and should 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo recover from her thigh injury in time to compete, she will face resurgent American Ashley Harkleroad in the first round.

First Look at the Top Eight Wimbledon Seeds

(1) Ana Ivanovic (First Round: Rossana De Los Rios)
Top seed Ana Ivanovic’s recent accolades include winning her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros, along with taking the No. 1 ranking away from Maria Sharapova, but like many of the other top players, her preparation for Wimbledon did not include any actual matches.

This will be a new experience for Ivanovic, who has never entered a Grand Slam as a top seed or faced the pressure of being expected to win. She has a relatively good draw and should have a clear shot to the quarterfinals, where she could play eighth seed Anna Chakvetadze.
Prediction: Semifinals

(2) Jelena Jankovic (First Round: Olga Savchuk)
The personable Jelena Jankovic is quickly becoming the Tour’s best bridesmaid. She has stood at the Grand Slam altar four times in the semifinals, but has not been able to win just one more round to reach a Championship.

Her personality has brought her more fans than her results of late, and although she is seeded No. 2, this could be her toughest draw at a Grand Slam. If the draw holds, she’ll play defending champion Venus Williams in the quarterfinals, and if she wins that match, her reward may be a semifinal against Maria Sharapova.
Prediction: Runner-up

(3) Maria Sharapova (First Round: Stephanie Foretz)
The biggest question surrounding Maria Sharapova is not whether she can win her fourth Grand Slam title, but will her serve even lead her into the second week of the tournament. She had a disappointing run at the French Open and produced some of her worst serving since suffering a shoulder injury in 2007. I can’t see Sharapova going far on the fast lawns at Wimbledon if she duplicates her Paris statistic of forty-three double faults in just four rounds.

Sharapova is in the toughest quarter of the draw with Elena Dementieva, Dinara Safina, Nadia Petrova, rising star Victoria Azarenka, and experienced veteran Lindsay Davenport.
Prediction: Semifinals

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova (First Round: Mathilde Johansson)
Calling Kuznetsova’s draw tough might be an understatement. If the seedings hold Kuznetsova will play Alona Bondarenko in the third round, one of the most talented young women rising through the Tour ranks and a player who has beaten Kuznetsova in both of their previous meetings.

If the Russian makes it to the fourth round, she could then play Grand Slam giant-killer Agnieszka Radwanska, followed by Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. Given Kuznetsova’s recent inconsistency and her 6-2, 6-2 loss to Caroline Wozniacki at Eastbourne, she could become the first top player to fall in the first week.
Prediction: Quarterfinals

(5) Elena Dementieva (First Round: Maria Elena Camerin)
Not surprising given the speed of grass and her own serve struggles, Elena Dementieva has never been a major contender at Wimbledon. After looking at her draw, don’t expect that to change this year.

She is in the same tough quarter as Sharapova and could face Lindsay Davenport in the third round. While Dementieva can handily outrun Davenport, Lindsay will have the advantage in the service department. Lindsay’s serve has led her to seven consecutive second week appearances at the Championships, and although she is not yet her old self, Davenport has a legitimate chance at making her streak extend to eight.
Prediction: Fourth round

(6) Serena Williams (First Round: Kaia Kanepi)
Serena Williams could have a tough first round encounter with Kaia Kanepi, but after that, I like her chances of emerging victorious from the top half of the draw. She has a trio of inconsistent top players in her quarter, namely Svetlana Kuznetsova, Amelie Mauresmo, and Marion Bartoli.

Kuznetsova has a draw that will give her nightmares before she heads home, Mauresmo is nursing a thigh injury, and although Bartoli is currently still alive in the draw at Eastbourne, she previously lost three straight first round matches.
Prediction: Champion

(7) Venus Williams (First Round: Naomi Cavaday)
Defending champion Venus Williams is in the tough half of the draw, but she should easily set up a fourth round meeting against Daniela Hantuchova—if Hantuchova’s foot holds up that long. The Slovakian has been off the Tour since April because of a stress fracture in her right heel.

If Hantuchova is fully recovered, she might be able to pressure Venus, but I would expect the best match of the bottom half to come in the quarterfinals between Venus and Jelena Jankovic. Jankovic holds a surprising 4-3 record over the four-time champion and was the last player to defeat Venus at Wimbledon.
Prediction: Quarterfinals

(8) Anna Chakvetadze (First Round: Stephanie Dubois)
If you are looking for a surprise at Wimbledon, keep your eye on Chakvetadze.

The 21-year old Russian has reportedly started working with Carlos Rodriguez and although Rodriquez never coached Justine Henin to a Wimbledon title, he might be able to help Chakvetadze reach the second week for the first time in her career.
Prediction: Quarterfinals

To view a real-time copy of the 2008 Wimbledon draw, please visit the official website.

Ana Ivanovic, the new incoming Sony Ericsson WTA Tour world number one, will face Safina in Saturday’s final.

Safina, the thirteenth seed, bested her fourth seeded countrywoman in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.

It was a nervy performance by both Russians with five service breaks in the opening set alone.

This time, Safina did not need to mount a big comeback from behind—something she has been forced to do in both of her last matches against Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva.

Thursday’s first semifinal was expected to be a closer battle, but Svetlana Kuznetsova came out sluggish and by the start of the second set, her body language was disheartening. It was a terrible performance by the 2004 US Open champion, closing the door on one of her best opportunities to win a second Grand Slam title.

For the second consecutive year, Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic is in the Roland Garros women’s championship match. Ivanovic reached the singles final in 2007 before losing to a now-retired Justine Henin in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

Playing with a spot in Saturday’s final—and the Tour’s top spot—on the line, Ivanovic outlasted her older countrywoman Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the second semifinal of the day in Paris.

Ivanovic appeared in control of the match after the opening set, but lost some of her aggression during the second set. This momentary lapse in concentration allowed Jankovic to force a deciding set and race to a 3-1 lead before Ivanovic stepped up her game.

She broke Jankovic’s serve for the seventh time on her first match point with a blistering forehand return up the line.

Despite the outcome of the final on Saturday, Ivanovic is assured of overtaking Maria Sharapova on Monday’s edition of the Tour rankings. She will become the first Serbian in history to be the No. 1 ranked female player in the world.

Check back at On the Baseline on Friday for a preview of the championship match!

Is it harder to defeat an injured opponent or beat your own nerves? Ana Ivanovic will know the answer in less than 24 hours.

Ivanovic exited the French Open final a nervous wreck in 2007, but she promised that if ever put in that situation again, she would control her nerves better. Ivanovic acquitted herself well in January’s Australian Open final, but it still did not bring her a coveted Grand Slam trophy.

Now standing in her way is a familiar face. Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic’s relationship brings to mind the now-obsolete Justine Henin/Kim Clijsters rivalry, but these two appear to be a bit more cordial. Mind you, they are not best buddies, but at least have managed to put their love for Serbia first and foremost.

That love for being the best in Serbia might get in the way Thursday. Unlike the outgoing world No. 1 who literally said “boo-hoo” to her ranking, both Ivanovic and Jankovic fiercely want the top spot. Unfortunately for both of their nervous systems, they are second on court Thursday, meaning that if Svetlana Kuznetsova should lose, the winner of their match automatically ascends to the top spot.

While nerves could hurt Ivanovic, injuries and fatigue could be the undoing of Jelena Jankovic.

Jelena’s “I love Paris” bandage is cute, but she’s not wearing it for a fashion statement. A Jankovic match is generally never complete without an injury timeout, and already she has battled forearm and shoulder injuries while in Paris. She played without pain on Tuesday, but apparently, the arm injury was originally serious enough for Jankovic to charter a private plane back to Serbia on Sunday to consult with her doctors.

She insists that she will be ready to go on Thursday against her countrywoman and although she’ll stick to her own game plan, she is prepared to attack the Ivanovic serve. Despite losing to Ana five times in their six matches, Jankovic believes this will be a new day for her, especially as they are playing on clay, her best surface.

Okay, so back to my question. What is more dangerous, a nervous opponent or an injured opponent? I’ve always believed a wounded foe could be more dangerous than a healthy (mentally or physically) one, so I’m looking for a battered, bruised, and beaming Jankovic to reach the 2008 French Open final.
Pick: Jelena Jankovic

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. (13) Dinara Safina

I thought Dinara Safina’s fairy tale run at the Qatar Telecom German Open was inspiring, but the story only grew better once she headed to Paris. In the past four weeks, she has been the player to beat on clay, a woman on a mission to add to her family’s Grand Slam collection.

Marat’s little sister is no longer simply Marat’s little sister. Dinara has come into her own on the Tour and is currently enjoying an 11-match win streak. True, she has the Safin unpredictability in her corner, but that is what has endeared her to fans over the last twelve days in France. She mumbles, fumes, and smashes her racquet, but each time she dropped to her knees after sealing victories in the fourth round and quarterfinals, I found my heart cheering for the underdog.

Her courage and persistence have been on display as she has battled past match points in both of her last two wins. She has been creative on court, mixed up her shots, and completely threw off the rhythm of her opponents in the decisive third sets.

The rigor of playing a pair of long and intense matches might start to take its toll, but I believe Dinara still has some fire left in her tank. Svetlana Kuznetsova has not dropped a set yet at Roland Garros, but she did struggle against Kaia Kanepi on Wednesday.

Svetlana holds the advantage in experience, especially at Grand Slams. But the trouble is, Kuznetsova often acts as if she is not capable of willing herself to a victory. When the chips get down on a big stage, so does the Russian.

She slides like a seal, and her shot-making brings up memories of Henin, but Svetlana, as likable as she is, has often come up short in the heart department—which could be the deciding factor on Thursday.

Is Dinara Safina, the last person to beat Justine Henin, ready to assume her legacy? Of the players remaining, how could I dare pick against her after her last two amazing victories?
Pick: Dinara Safina

Svetlana Kuznetsova, the only former Grand Slam champion still alive in the draw, beat Kaia Kanepi in straight sets to reach the semifinals.

In the first quarterfinal of the day at Roland Garros, Kuznetsova came from behind in the first set to best Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi 7-5, 6-2. The 2004 US Open champion reached the final at Roland Garros in 2006 before losing to Justine Henin.

Kuznetsova’s countrywoman Dinara Safina appeared to be headed out of the tournament before she managed to rally against another Russian, Elena Dementieva, late in the second set. Like on Monday against Maria Sharapova, Safina forced a second set tie-break before storming back to take the deciding third set 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-0.

Both of Thursday’s semifinal matches will be one country affairs. Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic have guaranteed that a player from Serbia will reach Saturday’s championship match, and either Safina or Kuznetsova will play for Russia in the final.

Check back at On the Baseline later on Wednesday for a preview of the semifinal round.

Four players–Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, and Svetlana Kuznetsova–each have an opportunity to leave Paris as the best player in the world.

The scenarios are complicated, but the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has determined what needs to happen for each player to clinch the top spot.

(1) Maria Sharapova
If Maria Sharapova reaches the final, she will remain the No. 1 player on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

Sharapova can also stay No. 1 if she…
- Loses in the fourth round and neither Ivanovic, Jankovic or Kuznetsova reach the final.
- Loses in the quarterfinals, Kuznetsova does not win the title and neither Ivanovic nor Jankovic reach the final.
- Loses in the semifinals and neither Ivanovic nor Jankovic win the title.

(2) Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic will become No. 1 if she reaches the final, Sharapova does not reach the semifinals, Jankovic does not reach the final and Kuznetsova does not win the title.

Ivanovic can also clinch the No. 1 ranking if she wins the title and Sharapova does not reach the final.

(3) Jelena Jankovic
Jelena Jankovic will become No. 1 if she reaches the semifinals, Sharapova does not reach the third round and neither Ivanovic nor Kuznetsova reach the final.

Alternately, Jelena will still get the No. 1 ranking if she finishes as the runner-up, Sharapova does not reach the semifinals and Kuznetsova does not win the title.

Jankovic will also become No. 1 if she wins the title in Paris and Sharapova does not reach the final.

(4) Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova will become No. 1 if she reaches the final, Sharapova does not reach the quarterfinals and neither Ivanovic nor Jankovic reach the final.

Kuznetsova will also take the No. 1 ranking if she wins the title, as long as Maria Sharapova did not reach the semifinals.

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