Each day during Roland Garros, we'll select three of the most intriguing matches on the schedule and offer our predictions.
Novak Djokovic [2] vs. Richard Gasquet [13] (Court Philippe Chatrier, Third Match)
Seven wins. That's all it takes to change a career in tennis, a sport defined almost entirely by its four majors. But every so often, one win—even a fourth-round win—will do the same. No one will forget Robin Soderling after he ended Rafael Nadal's perfect Roland Garros record two years ago in the round of 16. Gasquet has a chance to do something similar Sunday, as he'll be the 41st hurdle in Djokovic's astoundingly good 2011 season. I think the Serb will clear it, but Gasquet has inspired confidence lately, starting with his win against Roger Federer in Rome. At the French, the only Slam Gasquet hadn't reached the fourth round at, the Frenchman has been sharp, none more so than in his third-rounder against the rising Thomaz Bellucci. Gasquet celebrated as if he'd won the tournament; what will he do if he becomes The Man Who Ended Djokovic's Streak? We'll probably never know, but it's good to see Gasquet playing with passion once again.
The Pick: Djokovic in four sets.
Francesca Schiavone [5] vs. Jelena Jankovic [10] (Court Suzanne Lenglen, Second Match)
You could have gotten long odds on Schiavone repeating her title run in Paris, but now it doesn't seem as far-fetched. She looks like a captain amongst greenhorns on the terre battue and seems geniunely thrilled to be back at the venue of her greatest triumph. Unsurprisingly, the emotional boost has carried over into her tennis—the Italian has lost just 10 games in three matches. But I wouldn't automatically give her the nod against Jankovic, suspect as the Serb can be. Jankovic, who overwhelmed Bethanie Mattek-Sands in her last match, 6-2, 6-2, has likewise rolled into the fourth round. It will take some aggressive tennis to beat Schiavone, who seems to have command of the ball at the moment. Jankovic is capable of it, but it feels like Schiavone's magic dust isn't completely used up.
The Pick: Schiavone in three sets.
David Ferrer [7] vs. Gael Monfils [9] (Court Suzanne Lenglen, Third Match)
We call both of these men baseliners, but really, Monfils should be referred to as a behind-the-baseliner. Too often, the Frenchman camps out well behind the white line and lets the ball come to him. Oh, he'll get to it nearly everytime, and return it with surprising authority. To which Ferrer, who specializes in long, drawn-out exchanges, will give Monfils another ball to slide/dive/lunge to. This could be a long match, even if it's only a four-setter. I give the edge to Ferrer, the higher seed who, let's not forget, gave Nadal a tough match in the Monte Carlo final (he lost 6-4, 7-5). Against the reactive Monfils, Ferrer might actually be one showing more offense.
The Pick: Ferrer in four sets.
Ed McGrogan is the online editor of TENNIS.com.