This post features two snap previews to cover the quarter-finals for the bottom half of the 2017 French Open draw. Wednesday’s quarter-finals will include Simona Halep vs. Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova vs. Caroline Garcia. For a round-up of last 16 action on Monday, check out the latest Set Points post HERE.
1. Simona Halep vs. Elina Svitolina (French Open, QF)
Matching their top eight seedings, Simona Halep and Elina Svitolina will reprise last month’s Rome final in a blockbuster quarter-final match-up. Improving match-by-match, Halep scored an emphatic 6-1 6-1 fourth round victory over Carla Suárez Navarro. It was a noteworthy win because Halep had never beaten the Spaniard before on clay. While both players had similar first serve percentages, Halep was much more successful behind it by winning 68% of first serve points.
In polar opposites, Svitolina had to battle hard from *2-5 *0-30 down in the third set to see off the qualifier, Petra Martic, 4-6 6-3 7-5. Svitolina was on the ropes but demonstrated champion-like qualities to prevail, taking advantage of tension from Martic’s side, but playing aggressively herself and hitting winners off the forehand wing.
Head-to-head record: Halep leads Svitolina in their head-to-head, 2-1. Of most importance was their Rome final last month where Svitolina won, 4-6 7-5 6-1. While Svitolina got the win, Halep had been dictating play before she hurt her ankle in the first set. The Romanian player admitted to not being able to give her all physically in the third set.
Final thoughts: Halep’s most impressive asset during this superb clay court season has been her mental resilience. The ankle has been baring up and her level has been improving with each match in Paris. Svitolina too has been mentally sound and is showcasing her rising confidence level by toughing out wins when not playing at her best.
The Rome final wasn’t a great match, in my opinion, because of their respective injuries so I hope this won’t be the same on Wednesday because they’ll both need to do plenty of running! I’d go for Halep to prevail, particularly after what happened in Rome – I think the Romanian player is more decisive in attack and the more natural mover on the clay.
2. Karolina Pliskova vs. Caroline Garcia (French Open, QF)
Karolina Pliskova and Caroline Garcia will square off in their first quarter-finals at Roland Garros. Garcia has well and truly broken new ground having never previously made it past the third round of a Slam. In an all-French fourth round encounter, Garcia beat Alizé Cornet, 6-2 6-4, just about holding her nerve at the end. Garcia was most impressive in chasing down Cornet’s drop shots and then being able to hit winners when up at the net. Her serve was decent and the groundstrokes were mostly secure.
Things got a little dicey for Garcia at the end – she served up two double faults when serving for the match at *5-3, the second one on break point in rather spectacular fashion. However, in what was a painful end to the match, Cornet hit two double faults of her own with Garcia breaking for the win. The nerves were understandable but Garcia got returns back in court – it seems straightforward, but that hasn’t always been the case for the Frenchwoman!
Pliskova hasn’t found her A-game in Paris but she hasn’t needed to, coming up trumps mentally and continuing to tough out matches. A quarter-final showing, even if the draw has been kind to her, is a superb achievement on her least favourite surface. From a set down, Pliskova beat Veronica Cepede Royg, 2-6 6-3 6-4. There really wasn’t much between the pair in the decider – Pliskova won the key points including saving a break point at *3-4.
Head-to-head record: Pliskova and Garcia are tied at 2-2 in their head-to-head with three of their four encounters going three sets. Garcia played a great match in the Fed Cup final last year, while Pliskova won their most recent match-up in Doha earlier this year, 7-5 6-4.
Final thoughts: I think that Garcia is playing the better tennis right now and is more comfortable on the clay – the big question is whether she can outlast Pliskova mentally who has been scrapping so well this tournament. Garcia has struggled in front of home crowds at Roland Garros but so far, she has managed to handle her nerves and the occasion. I’ll take a risk and go for Garcia – i’m always wary of her nerves but I think her game matches up well against Pliskova.
Moo's Tennis Blog 
I think you undersell Garcia’s performance against Cornet a tad. She hit 8 winners and 0 errors in the final 4 games of that first set. As you mentioned, her movement was beautiful. I find sometimes she poses a little much when hitting big shots but this week she’s looked graceful, relaxed and poised.
I’m going for Halep and Garcia.
I’d love for Svitolina to find something to really take it to Halep though. I actually feel her game is stronger than Simona’s and that she has the tactical edge too. I’m just concerned about the injury.
With Garcia, it’s down to whether the crowd lifts her or whether it pressures her. She HAS to stay back on the return of first serve. Karolina’s second serve is much less solid and can be a tad predictable, so Garcia needs to be aggressive without giving away free points.
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Going for Halep and Garcia anyway, I hope Halep stay fit and hold serves after breaks 😉 Garcia is just way better, we will see what about her head will do, should be two sets if she helps herself with first serve.
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It was personal against Cornet.
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If Pliskova can’t find a higher level than in her matches against non Top 60 she won’t have much of a chance against Garcia.
Halep should win this match. Svitolina’s strenghts are very similar to Halep’s but Halep is a bit better in every department imo.
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Nothing against Elina, but I hope Simona wins because I think she should have won the title in 2014. In the other match, I think Karo’s the better player in theory but so far she hasn’t distinguished herself on clay, so I’m going for Caroline Garcia to win it (and a semi between Simona and Caroline, with their contrasting styles, would be worth seeing).
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Credit to Pliskova and Svitolina for their fighting spirit, it is nothing new for Svitolina but still, she won so many matches in last games this year. Pliskova is growing in another czech fighter and I am a little surprised, love to see her trying to get the win whatever it takes however she has not much weapons on clay and she doesnt feel well over there. Important will be another fact, she doesnt like when the start of her match is moving in time, that was also reasons of first set performace with Cepede as she said so and it is not the first time.
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