1. Andrea Petkovic v Sara Errani (RG, R3)
In a repeat of last year’s Roland Garros quarter-final, Andrea Petkovic and Sara Errani will meet in the third round this year. Petkovic’s participation was in doubt after her clay court season was halted by illness and injury. Petkovic pulled out of her first round match in Nurnberg last week due to a right thigh injury . Petkovic sailed through her first round match against Shelby Rogers, 6-2 6-1 but encountered a sticky second round match against Lourdes Dominguez Lino, coming from a set down and then a break down in the decider to prevail, 4-6 6-4 6-4. Petko faces more of the same against Sara Errani. The Italian has made work hard for herself this week, losing the middle set of both of her matches to Alison Riske and Carina Witthoeft. She came back though to win the final sets in both convincingly. Errani’s recent record has been superb at RG and she has reached the quarter-finals three consecutive times. I’d fancy the Italian player to win this one with Petkovic not quite at full fitness.
Prediction: Errani d. Petkovic in 3 sets
2. Petra Kvitova v Irina-Camelia Begu (RG, R3)
Oh Petra. Two matches, two three setters but she’s still in! Kvitova dropped a set against Silvia Soler-Espinosa in her second round match on Thursday. After losing a first set tiebreak, Kvitova came back to win, 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2. For Petra, wins are all that matters. She always seem to struggle early on in tournaments but if she’s there at the end from the quarters, beware! Kvitova faces Irina-Camelia Begu in the third round. The Romanian player has really impressed me in the last month or two. She thrashed Ana Konjuh in the second round, 6-2 6-0. Begu played a great match against Victoria Azarenka in Rome and is becoming a notable threat on tour. Kvitova beat Begu earlier this year in Madrid in two tight sets. I have so many thoughts with this match. I could see Begu winning in easy two sets. Equally, I could see Petra just switch it on. I’m tossing and turning between the two outcomes. I’ll stick with Petra.
Prediction: Kvitova d. Begu in 3 sets
WTA RG R4 Predictions
Sloane Stephens d. Tsvetana Pironkova in 2 sets
Julia Goerges d. Irina Falconi in 3 sets
Francesca Schiavone d. Andreea Mitu in 3 sets
Kristina Mladenovic d. Alison Van Uytvanck in 2 tight sets
Poll results: 56% of readers correctly predicted that Safarova would beat Lisicki, 25% correctly predicted that Pennetta would beat Suarez Navarro, 30% correctly predicted that Muguruza would beat Kerber and 60% correctly predicted that Sharapova would beat Stosur.
Moo's Tennis Blog 
no preview of vika vs serena 😦
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Im experiencing a dreadful feeling about Petra’s match tomorrow. Lord help her.
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Which Petra will show up? Frankly speaking, it can go either way.
Francesca Schiavone v. Andreea Mitu. I think Mitu will win this one. I doubt that Schiavone has any fuel left in her tank.
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Fair point about Schiavone-Mitu. I was on the fence. Mitu doesn’t have any experience at this stage of a Slam and and I think this could be one of Fran’s last so she’ll be up for it.
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Like you, I am on the fence on this one. My comments were based on Mitu past records on beating similar type of players like Lourdes, Dinah etc. Fran has nothing to threaten Mitu because Mitu can handle spin balls exceptionally well. TBH, I hope Fran can win because this may be her last one.
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Yeah I know what you mean, Agha!
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Petkovi vs Errani is so hard to predict. How bad is Petko tight problem at this stage?
I was in Paris last year to watch the QF between these two. Sara played very well but Petko just returned every ball back and won. I am not sure if she can do it again this year. Furthermore, Sara is not playing doubles, I assume she can focus on this one better.I do expect Petko to retire half way through or call MTO after losing one set.
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I don’t know. Petko had a problem returning drop shots apparently against LDL. Errani hasn’t been that convincing but i can imagine she’s a frustrating player to play if you’re not feeling 100%.
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On paper Petkovic v. Errani seems to tight. Even the poll has them at 50-50, but I have a gut feeling Andrea has a focus-edge on this one. She looks better this year, scoring some really good wins against reputable players. Errani just seems she’s doing OK with her win over Radwaska and the 3 setter against S. Williams being some exceptions rather than rules of her season. One thing that might tip the scales in favour of Sara is Andrea’s physical state considering her W/Os in Madrid and Nurnberg. Really tough to pick but I’m going for Andrea in 3.
Kvitova vs. Begu – This one is a bitch. Sure, Petra should be a clear favorite on paper, but she didn’t really look convincing in her first 2 rounds and Paris’ clay is not her strong spot while Begu’s best results and better games this year all happened on clay. I think Begu has it in her and coming in it as an outsider she faces little to no pressure and that might serve her well as we know she is not yet as reliable mentally as Romanian fans would love her to be. As The Guardian said – if I remember well – she can play one minute like a top 20 and the next like a low 100. If Petra finds her form, this might go in favour of her in 2 (1 tight, 1 easy). If not, it will be a 3-setter with either one able to come out victorious. *upset alert*
For me, today’s highlight will be Schiavone vs. Mitu. Mitu is riding a great wave of confidence these days and the fact that she now has Marcu (Halep’s ex-coach that revived her in 2013) on her side, plus the fact that she’s finally traveling with a physio on her team could tip the scales. In her match against Pliskova I haven’t seen a drop of sweat on her, she looked just as fresh coming into the 3rd set as in the beginning. On the other hand Francesca comes after an exhausting match, both mentally and physically. So it’s a matter of experience & will (one of her last shots as you said James) versus age, freshness and will (to confirm, to establish). Chances are 60-40 in Francesca’s favour, because most times in WTA, experience tends to overcome sheer will. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mitu in the 4th round. Truthfully, I’d love to see her more and more on the circuit, no qualifying rounds. I like her game a lot. While her court movement is not that great, I love her winning attitude, the fact that she’s not afraid to go for the winners and she has a good eye for them. What she lack in movement she compensates through court and opponent vision. Won’t “risk” a prediction in this one as I’ll be choosing with my heart, thus subjectively. 🙂
Will be a very interesting day today.
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Begu had Kvitova on the ropes in Madrid before the pressure got to her. Will she be tougher today? Or feel even more pressure? Could go either way.
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Well, Petra raised her game, but truthfully she didn’t need to do much. Irina couldn’t put a decent ball in-court with a gun to her head. And that affected her visibly. She didn’t really put up a fight. Either way a decent result for Begu in this year’s RG.
On the other hand, Mitu is looking like she’s on her way to an upset, leading 1-0. Very interesting match over there.
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