French Open: Quarter-Final Predictions for Day 11

/ June 5, 2012
The top 4 on Day 11

Maria Sharapova

1. Maria Sharapova v Kaia Kanepi

Maria Sharapova suffered a major struggle in the fourth round as she battled for over three hours to overcome Klara Zakopalova, 6-4 6-7 6-2.  In difficult conditions, Sharapova served 12 double faults and was broken on nine occasions, but showed she is the ultimate fighter as she avoided the same fate as Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.  Her opponent in the quarter-finals is Kaia Kanepi who beat Arantxa Rus in a strange old match, 6-1 4-6 6-0.  The Estonian has fought with her nerves during this tournament, particularly so in an ugly third round match where she struggled to put away Caroline Wozniacki.  There is no doubt that Kanepi has the game to trouble Sharapova, but whether she believes she can do it and actually put the match to bed if she gets into a winning position is another question.  They have never played before on the WTA tour, but the edge has to go with Sharapova…
Prediction – Sharapova to beat Kanepi in 2 tight sets

2. Petra Kvitova v Yaroslava Shvedova
The big upset on day 11 saw Li Na bundled out of the competition by the resurgent Yaroslava Shvedova as she afforded Li just two games after losing the first set, 3-6 6-2 6-0.  Shvedova has reached this stage of Roland Garros before having fallen to Jelena Jankovic in 2010 and she will look to go one better against Petra Kvitova.  The Wimbledon Champion played a fine match to defeat a weary looking Varvara Lepchenko, 6-2 6-1.  Like the first quarter-final, the two have never played before but i’m sticking safe today and going with Kvitova, albeit in 3 sets.
Prediction – Kvitova to beat Shvedova in 3 sets

Rafael Nadal

3. David Ferrer v Andy Murray
Apart from Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer has looked the most impressive of the men at Roland Garros.  He followed up his rout of Mikhail Youzhny with a convincing 6-3 6-2 6-0 victory over Marcel Granollers.  His opponent in the quarter-finals is Andy Murray who recovered from a first set washout to effortlessly sweep aside Richard Gasquet, 1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2.  Gasquet looked to be the favourite for this one but disappeared from the match after wasting break points at the end of the second set.  Murray has consistently struggled with back problems throughout this tournament and will not be afforded the same easy passage that Gasquet provided in the 4th round.  Ferrer has won all their previous matches on clay and I think he will win this one too to reach his first ever semi-final at Roland Garros.
Prediction – Ferrer to beat Murray in 4 sets

4. Rafael Nadal v Nicolas Almagro
Rafael Nadal has looked in truly majestic form throughout this clay court season and he has taken it to the next level at Roland Garros with a series of a terrific performances which has seen him lose just 19 games in 4 matches; he destroyed Juan Monaco in the 4th round, 6-2 6-0 6-0.  His opponent in the quarter-finals is Nicolas Almagro who has had a very impressive tournament having won all his matches so far in straight sets.  He took out Janko Tipsarevic in the 4th round, 6-4 6-4 6-4.  Nadal has won all seven matches against Almagro although their last one at Roland Garros in 2010 was a tight three setter with Almagro having his chances.  I just cannot see Nadal being upset in this match although I think Almagro will put up more resistance than Nadal’s four previous opponents..
Prediction – Nadal to beat Almagro in 3 sets

My predictions for yesterday have followed suit with my general record for the womens… abysmal! Sam Stosur and Sara Errani won through in the first two semi-finals and i’ve now got my eyes firmly on the grass court season although I will enjoy the end of Roland Garros 🙂

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