Guide to the quarter-finals
Tuesday, 05 June 2012
Categories: Tennis - International
Stosur to battle rising Slovakian for semi spot
By Anthony Morgan
As is normally the case, the first four rounds of the French Open have dished up plenty of surprises in the women's draw with only four of the world’s top-10 players reaching the quarter-finals.
The winners of tonight’s quarter-finals will play each other in the semis.
Here’s a look at the four quarter finals, the first begins tonight, 10pm (AEST).
Above: Australia's Sam Stosur. (AFP)
15- Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v 6-Sam Stosur (AUS)
Head-to-Head: Stosur leads 1-0
Road to the quarters
Cibulkova
1r – beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-2 6-1
2r – beat Vania King 6-0 6-2
3r – beat Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-2 6-1
4r – beat Victoria Azarenka 6-4 7-6
Stosur
1r – beat Elena Baltacha 6-4 6-0
2r – beat Irina Falconi 6-1 6-4
3r – beat Nadia Petrova 6-3 6-3
4r – beat Sloane Stephens 7-5 6-4
The first quarter-final on Court Philippe Chatrier is between the 15th seed Cibulkova and sixth seed Stosur.
Both have been impressive through the first four rounds with neither dropping a set.
The diminutive Cibulkova took out top seed Victoria Azarenka in the fourth round and is looking to equal her best finish at the French Open, where she reached the semi finals in 2009 before falling to Dinara Safina.
Stosur also reached the semis in 2009 and a year later made her giant-killing run to the final in which she was thrashed by Francesca Schiavone.
While Cibulkova will make Stosur hit a lot of balls, the Australian enjoys the courts at Roland Garros and that should be enough to get her over the line.
Tip: Stosur in straight sets.
21- Sara Errani (ITA) v 10-Angelique Kerber (GER)
Head-to-Head: Kerber leads 1-0
Road to the quarters
Errani
1r – beat Casey Dellacqua 4-6 6-2 6-2
2r – beat Melanie Oudin 6-2 6-3
3r – beat Ana Ivanovic 1-6 7-5 6-3
4r – beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-0 7-5
Kerber
1r – beat Shuai Zhang 6-3 6-4
2r – beat Olga Govortsova 6-3 6-2
3r – beat Flavia Pennetta 4-6 6-3 6-2
4r – beat Petra Martic 6-3 7-5
21st seed Sara Errani takes on 10th seed Angelique Kerber in the second quarter final.
Kerber (36-10) and Errani (33-10) are both having strong seasons as they surge up the rankings and are both chasing a spot in their first grand slam semi final.
Errani reached the Australian Open quarters in January and has taken out French Open winners Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the past two rounds, while Kerber has been solid in her four matches.
Neither player has a strong history in Paris, but the size and angle the left-handed Kerber generates should book her spot with our other tip, Stosur, in the semis.
Tip: Kerber in straight sets.
23-Kaia Kanepi (EST) v 2-Maria Sharapova (RUS)
Head to Head: First meeting
Road to the quarters
Kanepi
1r – beat Alexandra Panova 6-3 6-3
2r – beat Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4 6-1
3r – beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-1 6-7 6-3
4r – beat Arantxa Rus 6-1 4-6 6-0
Sharapova
1r – beat Alexandra Cadantu 6-0 6-0
2r – beat Ayumi Morita 6-1 6-1
3r – beat Shuai Peng 6-2 6-1
4r – beat Klara Zakopalova 6-4 6-7 6-2
Estonian 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi takes on three-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova in the first of Wednesday’s quarter-finals.
Kanepi has been strong in the early rounds and took out ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.
Sharapova was in trailblazing form for the first three round, but a lack of strong opposition nearly cost her in the round of 16 where Klara Zakopalova gave her a staunch test.
Despite not being renowned as a claycourter, Sharapova has a more than useful record at Roland Garros, having made the quarter-final stage or better no less than five times. Sharapova’s experience at grand slam level should see her pass her toughest test so far.
Tip: Sharapova in three sets.
4-Petra Kvitova (CZE) v Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)
Head to Head: First meeting
Road to the quarters
Kvitova
1r – beat Ashleigh Barty 6-1 6-2
2r – beat Urszula Radwanska 6-1 6-3
3r – beat Nina Bratchikova 6-2 4-6 6-1
4r – beat Varvara Lepchenko 6-2 6-1
Shvedova
1r – beat Mandy Minella 6-3 6-4
2r – beat Sofia Arvidsson 6-1 6-0
3r – beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-4 7-5
4r – beat Li Na 3-6 6-2 6-0
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has gone under the radar through the first four rounds, dropping only one set to Nina Bratchikova in round three.
The 142nd world ranked Yaroslava Shvedova is her opponent in the quarter finals and was impressive in winning the last 10 games to oust defending French Open champion Li Na this morning.
Shvedova went through the qualifying tournament without dropping a set and is also playing the mixed doubles and women’s doubles events, and it would be a remarkable achievement if she could pull off another upset, but it is unlikely.
Tip: Kvitova to win in straight sets to set up a blockbuster 2011 Wimbledon final rematch with Sharapova in the semis.
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