By Kamakshi Tandon

Jelena Jankovic (SRB)[4] vs. Venus Williams (USA)[26]Court Philippe Chatrier – 11:00 am

Clay isn’t the preferred surface for either player, but Venus is a former finalist and Jankovic says she’s developing a liking for the dirt. Both like to end points on their own terms and count their backhand as their best shot, so don’t expect a typical long, grinding claycourt match here, though.

The two played on green clay in the semifinals of Charleston in April, with Jankovic squeezing through in a dramatic third-set tiebreaker. She’s the again favored player here, but has come up shot in a couple of big matches in the last two Grand Slams. If Venus is serving well – she hit 128 mph in her last match – and keeps her concentration throughout – which she didn’t in her last match – the emotional Jankovic could get frustrated and unravel. Anything less than a very clean performance from Venus, however, and Jankovic should take advantage.

Prediction: Jankovic

Gael Monfils (FRA) vs. David Nalbandian (ARG)[15]Court Philippe Chatrier – 3rd match

Not exactly two of the most reliable competitors on the circuit. Monfils, the great French hope on the men’s side after Richard Gasquet’s shock exit, took four falls in his first match, but don’t expect him to reel in his acrobatic game as a result. He followed up with an extemely solid win over Juan Ignacio Chela. The funk he's been in for the last few months, it seems to have clearly up magically now he's hooked up with new coach tarik Benhabiles.

Nalbandian hasn’t played since pulling out of Hamburg with injury, otherwise the shark-like Argentine would be likely to wear Monfils down. As it is, if Monfils can stay standing and draw inspiration from the fans (which he does), he has a good chance of moving into the second week.

Prediction: Monfils

Samantha Stosur (AUS)[27] vs. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE)[6]Court 2 – 2nd match

An attacking player in the third round of the women’s singles? Surely not. Yet here’s Stosur, the winner of 21 doubles titles, through to face 2006 semifinalist Nicole Vaidisova. This is a tough one to call – Vaidisova won all three of their encounters last year, but hasn’t played for about five weeks because of a wrist problem.

Stosur could throw Vaidisova’s big-hitting game off-balance on the clay, but Vaidisova just defeated 6’3” Akgul Amanmuradova in the previous round, so it should be hard to faze her after that.

Prediction: Vaidisova