By Kamakshi Tandon

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)[14] vs. Gaston Gaudio (ARG) Court Phillipe Chatrier – 11:00 am

Now this is intriguing indeed. The 2004 French Open champion has been in a major funk this year. He contemplated quitting after losing in the first round of Barcelona, but eventually decided to play out the remainder of the clay season and see how he felt from here. His performance in his next two events won’t have made him feel much better – one win against the hapless (on clay) Mardy Fish and straight-set losses to Andy Roddick and Richard Gasquet.

Hewitt has performed surprisingly well during the last few weeks after being hit with some injuries earlier this year. The Australian gave Nadal a real fight in the semifinals of Hamburg also reached the semifinals in Portschach last week. Twice a quarterfinalist here, he’s also the last male player from an english-speaking country left in the draw.

Gaudio is the better claycourt player, but Hewitt has the basic tools needed to be effective on the surface and has far more confidence. In this match, it'll be especially important to try to establish a lead early and gain the mental advantage.

Pick: Hewitt

Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)[5] vs. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) Court Philippe Chatrier – 3rd match

Mauresmo didn’t look 100% convincing in her first-round match, and has struggled since returning from a bout of appendicitis in March. The good news for her is that Dechy isn’t riding high at the moment either, and this may not be a very pretty match because both players a likely to feel nerves playing a countrywoman in front of a home crowd.

If Dechy plays well, she could take advantage of Mauresmo’s rust and pull off a win that would be big news in France. But Mauresmo, for once coming into this event with no pressure,is the stronger player and should be able to keep playing her way into shape.

Pick: Mauresmo

Ana Ivanovic (SRB)/Maria Kirilenko (RUS) vs. Jelena Jankovic (SRB)/
Na Li (CHN) Court 11 – 4th match

Ivanovic has an interesting matchup with Sania Mirza earlier in the day, and then this crowd-pleasing doubles contest with compatriot Jelena Jankovic on the other side of the net. Though their relations are lukewarm, they’ve enjoyed a lot of tandem success over the past year and given Serbia two players in the top ten.

There’ll be a lot of shutter-snapping during this one, particularly where Ivanovic and Kirilenko are concerned. It’s also interesting to see Li displaying a little more of her traditional rebelliousness and playing with a non-Chinese player.

Ivanovic and Kirilenko having been playing together for a while, reaching the last 16 at the US Open. Not surprisingly, the outgoing Jankovic plays with a lot of different partners, including on and off with Li.

The pairs met in the first round of Wimbledon last year, with Ivanovic and Kirilenko winning on the grass. Now comes a rematch on the clay.

Pick: Ivanovic/Kirilenko