Day 8 at Roland Garros 2015 was delayed for quite some time by rain, so the Monfils-Federer match which was tied at 1 set each will have to be concluded Monday. Day 9 at the 2015 French Open will feature some great matches in addition to that one on the men’s side, and our panel of tennis editor Steen Kirby, and freelance journalists John Lupo and Tadeas Gavenda are on hand to make picks and preview what to look for on the red clay.
(6)Rafael Nadal vs. Jack Sock
Steen:
Sock has been impressive this tournament, and he’s the first American man to reach the second week of the French in quite some time, that said Nadal, even if he’s somewhat weakened, is a bad matchup for him, as both have elite forehands, but Nadal has a better defensive game and is faster on his feet, giving him the edge on clay. Nadal has looked relatively dominant in his opening week, and though Sock has impressed, I don’t see enough chinks in Rafa’s armor for him to even lose a set to the upstart young gun American. Nadal in 3 sets
Tadeas:
It is the first meeting between these two players. Jack Sock defeated three dangerous opponents en route to the 4th round – 10th seeded Dimitrov, clay specialist Carreno Busta and young prospect Coric. Moreover, he showed some flashes of breathtaking tennis. Rafael Nadal, a nine-time French Open champion, is definitely huge favorite here, despite that his current tennis can’t be compared to that from the previous years. Nevertheless, some signs of impovement could be seen in Monte Carlo and Madrid. Then, he easily defeated his first three opponents in Paris. Although his current level is only a shadow of his previous clay dominance, he shouldn’t have too many problems with Sock. Hence I am expecting Nadal’s victory. Nadal in 3 sets
John:
The 9-time champion came into the event with no European clay court titles to his name for the first time in his career. So far, he’s looked every bit the part of the greatest clay courter of all time. In facing American Jack Sock, he’ll see someone with a huge serve and a world of confidence after taking apart 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric in between a win over Pablo Carreno Busta. With a title on the clay in Houston, the last American man standing in Paris will bring the firepower with his serve and forehand to keep it close, but Rafa marches into the quarterfinals. Nadal in 3 sets
(7)David Ferrer vs. (9)Marin Cilic
Steen:
Cilic is rounding in to form just in time for a key part of the season with the French and Wimbledon taking place just a month apart, but Ferrer is a difficult player to face on clay, and he’s been in the least gritty, and at his best methodical in the opening week, outlasting and outbattering opponents with his consistent bread and butter baseline play. Cilic hits a heavier ball, and as mention he’s playing well, including a routine win over the in-form Leonardo Mayer, but I’m favoring Ferrer’s consistency to just edge this out when it counts. Ferrer in 5 sets
Tadeas:
The match between 7th seeded Ferrer and 9th seeded Cilic is tricky to predict. The reigning US-open champion was struggling since the start of the season. But last matches suggest that he may finally find his way out of this slump. He didn’t lose a set yet at Roland Garros and especially his easy triumph over Mayer may give him a confidence. Ferrer also does not seem to be in a stellar form, achieving only average results during recent clay tournaments and struggling with Bolelli in 3rd round, but his reputation as skilled clay-courter, confirmed by solid results from previous years of French Open, makes him the slight favorite of upcoming match. I am going with Ferrer. Ferrer in 5 sets
John:
These two haven’t met since 2010. Cilic’s first major since he won the US Open last year has gone as well as can be expected. The Croat has looked sharp in all aspects of his game as he faces the always tough Spaniard. Ferrer has 3 titles in 2015, including on the dirt in Rio de Janeiro. His European clay court season has gone well with semifinals in Rome and Barcelona and quarterfinals in Monte Carlo and Madrid. The head to head is 3-1 in favor of the 7th seed, but throw that out. Cilic is playing well enough to overcome the negative record he has against Ferrer and I think he will in resounding fashion. Cilic in 3 sets
(3)Andy Murray vs. Jeremy Chardy
Steen:
Murray was challenged by Joao Sousa, dropping a set against the Portugese, but he’s been excellent and has avoided being in any serious danger through the first week. Chardy has rose up and shockingly is in the second week after upset wins, he does seem to play his best tennis in slams, but Murray, who was exhausted, beat him handily in Rome, thus Murray in 3 sets is my pick.
Tadeas:
Probably most people expected that Isner or Goffin will be in the 4th round from this part of the draw. But unseeded Jeremy Chardy defeated both American big server and rising Belgian and he is challenging 3rd seeded Andy Murray for the quarterfinals spot. Murray, who had never been considered as a serious contender on clay, is still unbeaten on the dirt this year. He captured the title in Munich and surprised the tennis world by defeating Nadal in Madrid. And despite the minor troubles with Sousa in 2nd round he seems to be in a good shape here, which was confirmed by comfortable victory over young and dangerous Kyrgios. In addition, Murray leads their H2H easily and he defeated Chardy few weeks ago in Rome, before his withdrawal. So, it seems that Murray has found some comfort on clay, therefore I expect his victory and advance to quarterfinals. Murray in 4 sets
John:
The Scot is on a roll during this clay season, having not dropped a match on the dirt with titles in Munich and Madrid, convincingly disposing Rafael Nadal, his first two titles on the red stuff. He’s looked relatively good at this year’s French, dropping just 1 set along the way. Chardy has played two of the best matches of his career in taking out 16th seed John Isner in round 2 and 17th seed David Goffin in Round 3. The talented but inconsistent Frenchman will have a partisan crowd on his side, but has a 1-6 career record against the 3rd seed, including a routine 6-4 6-3 loss in Rome. He’ll take a set, but Murray will move on. Murray in 4 sets
(1)Novak Djokovic vs. (20)Richard Gasquet
Steen:
I don’t see this being much of a match, with the exception of a minor blip against Jarkko Nieminen for part of a set, Novak hasn’t let an opponent touch him in the first week, and Gasquet doesn’t have the head to head history to suggest he can trouble the in-form world #1. Gasquet has had to claw his way this far, and though he’s likely to entertain the crowds and enjoy his journey into the second week as best he can, Djokovic being clinical is the most likely outcome, and I have Djokovic in 3 sets.
Tadeas:
Probably the easiest match to predict. Novak Djokovic seems to be the man on the mission. He is unbeaten since February and he defeated six different top 10 opponents en route to the titles in Monte Carlo and Rome. In addition, he is undoubtedly eager to win his first Roland Garros title and complete his Career Grand Slam. He advanced to the 4th round without losing a set and apparently had slight difficulties in his three matches that can be explained by his possible lack of attention. Richard Gasquet recently showed the improved form by winning Estoril title. His advance to the 4th round can be considered as a success, mainly his victory over Kevin Anderson. But he trails Djokovic 10:1 in their H2H and his playing style generally can’t cause much harm to World no.1. Therefore I am going with Djokovic easily. Djokovic in 3 sets
John:
The #1 player in the world is 38-2 on the year with 5 titles to his name, including a sound victory over Roger Federer in Rome. Showing no signs of slowing down, the Serb faces Frenchman Richard Gasquet. The 20th seed has 2 titles on the year, including the clay of Estoril. Expect to see one of the best backhand-to-backhand duels of the tournament in this one. Djokovic owns a 10-1 career record in this one and routined the hometown favorite 4, 4 and 2 in this same round here in 2011. Don’t expect it to be that lopsided. In fact, Gasquet will capture a set, but the 8 time Slam champion will set up the dream quarterfinal with 9 time Roland Garros champion Rafa Nadal. Djokovic in 4 sets
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