Before each day of play at the French Open, we'll preview and predict three (in this case, five) must-see matches. For full coverage of the season's second Slam, go to our tournament page.
In his win over Kei Nishikori on Sunday, Gasquet seemed to be benefit from an early rain delay. When it was over, he came back to the court a better and more aggressive player, and he rolled to victory from there. Afterward, Gasquet was asked what had changed when he was off court.
“My coach talked to me,” Gasquet said, with a hint of a smile. “Very loud.”
Gasquet’s coach, Sergi Bruguera, apparently was able to do what thousands of French tennis fans have tried in vain to do since 2002: Yell at Gasquet so loudly that he plays well enough to win a big match on a big court in Paris. Thirteen times this former sure-shot prodigy has played Roland Garros, and this is the first time he has reached the quarterfinals. This is the first time that he’s got the home fans’ hopes up, and kept them there. Against all odds, the jitteriest of French tennis heroes thrived in his role as the nation’s last man standing.
But if Gasquet thought he could leave his old, bad history at this tournament behind with that inspiring four-set win, he should have known better. On Tuesday, weather permitting, he’ll run smack into it again when he faces Murray in the quarters. Twice Gasquet has lost matches to Murray at majors when he was up two sets to love; the second time came at Roland Garros in 2010.
Unfortunately, for Gasquet, that loss set the tone for his future against Murray, as well as his future at Roland Garros. Since then, he has lost six of seven to the Scot, and in 2013 he again squandered a two-set lead in the fourth round, this time to Stan Wawrinka.
Can Richard G.—as he was called by a French tennis magazine that put him on its cover when he was just 9—change history again, at 29? Despite what he did against Nishikori, the logical answer is no. Murray is 7-3 against Gasquet, and after a couple of early scares last week, the former has gained confidence with each round. As usual, that which does not destroy a top player only makes him stronger.
Still, if Gasquet’s shot-making is anywhere close to the level it was on Sunday, this will be a competitive match. And if it’s competitive, it will be dramatic. We know the fans in Chatrier will be talking to Richard G., their lost savior, very loudly.
Winner: Murray
At first glance, while Djokovic will face a seed for the first time in Paris, this fourth-round match looks much like his first three: i.e., a glorified straight-sets practice session. He has faced Bautista Agut four times, and has dropped just one set. When they played last month in Madrid, Djokovic won, 6-2, 6-1, on a quicker version of clay that should have suited Bautista Agut. But the Spaniard has looked good so far at Roland Garros; he hasn’t dropped a set in three matches, and he’s coming off a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over a quality opponent in Borna Coric. Last year at the U.S. Open, Bautista Agut caught fire and pushed Djokovic to four. That may be all we can hope for, drama-wise, in this early-day match on Chatrier, but it would be exciting while it lasted.
Winner: Djokovic
Three days after escaping in a second-set tiebreaker against Kristina Mladenovic on Chatrier, Serena will return to the same court to face a better opponent in Svitolina. Is that a cause for worry in her camp? Possibly. Serena is 3-0 against the hard-hitting, gradually improving Ukrainian, but Svitolina took a set from her at the Australian Open last year. And with new coach/consultant Justine Henin in her corner, she’s been sharp so far in Paris; in her last match, Svitolina ended a seven-match losing streak to Ana Ivanovic. I don’t think she’ll do the same against Serena, who will likely come prepared, and who may find extra motivation in wanting to beat her old rival, Henin, again. But it will be interesting watching Svitolina try; the 21-year-old is going to have a breakout win some day.
Winner: S. Williams
