French Open 2007: Day 10 picks - 網球

http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/2007/06/paris_days_of_r.html
Paris: Days of Reckoning

Things have worked out well, wouldn’t you say? Just about everyone you’d
want to see is still hanging around the grounds at Roland Garros. This is
particularly true on the women’s side; we all know about Justine vs. Serena,
but each of the four quarterfinals should be entertaining and competitive.
They also may play a major role in deciding which of the WTA’s rising stars
is the first to pass the Grand Slam finish line.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. Tomorrow is full enough that we
don't need to look ahead. I’ve already made my choices for the tournament
winners and I’m sticking with them, but here’s a quick preview of Tuesday’
s quarters, in their order of appearance.

Ana Ivanovic vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova
I picked Kuzzie to win the whole thing, so I’m not surprised she’s here.
From what I’ve seen, she’s been belting the ball in her usual fashion, but
she’s been steady about it this time and hasn’t dropped a set. Ivanovic is
not a surprise either, exactly, but I still put her in the “you never know”
category. Maybe it’s time to take her out. She beat Kuznetsova for a big
title in Berlin a few weeks ago, and we all know she’s as smooth and
talented as any woman. But I think Kuznetsova will be motivated by that loss,
which she chalked up to being tired (and which was only in a third-set
tiebreaker anyway). Either way, I’m looking forward to a tight and
well-played two-setter.
Winner: Kuznetsova

Jelena Jankovic vs. Nicole Vaidisova
These two former Bollettieri tots have been playing out their rivalry on
bigger and bigger stages. Each seems ready to take the final step and win a
major, and the French is likely the best chance they’ll have this year.
Jankovic comes in hot, while Vaidisova is finding her form after an injury.
The Czech owns a 4-2 head-to-head record, but Jankovic won their only meeting
of 2007, in Sydney. Vaidisova has more power and a better serve, but Jankovic
hits a cleaner ball and moves more naturally. It seems destined to go three,
but I’ll take Jankovic there. Her recent title in Rome, and her win over
Venus Williams in a third set last week should help make her confident and
(relatively) calm in the clutch.
Winner: Jankovic

Justine Henin vs. Serena Williams
They just get better. We’ve been waiting for four years for this, and it
comes at a good time, because both women appear to be at or near their best. I
’ve picked Justine by a nose, and I don’t see any reason to change that…
except...after the first set of her first match Serena found her range and
hasn’t lost it. You can usually count on it to come and go for her over the
course of an event. She handily beat the No. 10 seed, Dinara Safina,
Saturday. Serena will also be motivated to avenge her loss to Henin here in
2003. And we all know what Serena’s like when she’s avenging something. So
why am I picking Henin? Um…well, I don't...ok, she’s the two-time defending
champion, she’s the best on clay, nobody moves around the dirt as well as
she does, and she was literally an inch from beating Serena in Key Biscayne
this spring.
Winner: Henin

Maria Sharapova vs. Anna Chakvetadze
You’ve got a contrast in Russians in this one. The big-hitting,
big-screeching “cow on ice” Sharapova faces the demure and soft-handed
Chakvetadze, a young Top 10 player looking to reach her first Slam semi. As
with Patty Schnyder, Sharapova can’t match her opponent’s hands or court
sense. But no one in the WTA can match Sharapova’s desire. It might hurt us
to hear it—and that last match was pretty painful—but Maria and her father
will do whatever it takes to win, and that fact has got to be worth two or
three games alone. Sharapova has never lost to Chaks, she beat her in two
close sets in Australia this year, and the fact that she just saved a match
point in her last round will help her if she gets down Tuesday. Clay may not
be Sharapova's surface, but Chakvetadze is better on hard courts as well. I’
ll take Sharapova in three, but I’m looking forward to seeing what
Chakvetadze can do with her understated counterpunching.
Winner: Sharapova

Nikolay Davydenko vs. Guillermo Canas
How much do you love dirtball? This is the question you must ask yourself
before you settle in for this one, because you’re going to get a lot of it.
Both guys can hit and run all day, all night, and then the next morning if
need be—hell, this may never end. It’s also a tough one to call. Each is
playing well and winning convincingly. Davydenko is the higher-ranked player
and can do more with the ball, but Canas owns a 3-1 record against the
Russian, he won their only meeting on clay (though they haven’t played since
2005), and, most important, he will never stop grinding. Never. Still, I
liked the way Davydenko was sticking and moving last week, so I’ll take him
in four arduous sets.
Winner: Davydenko

Roger Federer vs. Tommy Robredo
This is the only likely clunker of the day. Federer has been smacking his
forehand with the old panache, and he straight-setted a very dangerous player
in Mikhail Youzhny in the last round. Robredo, well, he’s going to lose.
Winner: Federer


--