French Open 2012 Schedule: Day 8 TV Coverage, Matches and Bracket Guide

Most expect Sloane Stephens to lose Sunday, myself included, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't rooting for her. Her match against sixth-seeded Samantha Stosur is the most intriguing match of Day 8 at the French Open. 

Stephens represents one of two American women still alive in the tournament (Varvara Lepchenko is still alive after upsetting 2010 champ, Francesca Schiavone).

The 19-year-old has been impressive thus far, she hasn't dropped a set in her three matches. That said, Stosur is the sixth-seed and she will represent Stephens most difficult challenge yet. The two have never met in any prior tournament.

Will this be the coming-out party for Stephens? The United States desperately needs a player, male or female, to carry the countries hopes in Grand Slam events. Serena Williams is 30 years old, and while she is still formidable she is clearly on her way out.

Stephens could be the United States next Tennis star.

Day 8 will also feature both No. 1 seeds in action and more. Check out this preview of the day's events, and where to watch the action:

TV Coverage:

5 a.m. - 10 a.m. ET ESPN

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. ET Tennis Channel

(head to head stats from tennis.wettpoint.com)

Other Featured Women's Match:

No. 1 Victoria Azarenka vs. No. 15 Dominika Cibulkova

Azarenka leads career series 7-1

This is a scary matchup for Azarenka in my opinion. Yes, she has dominated Cibulkova overall, but Cibulkova is playing very well in this tournament. Azarenka beat her in March at the Sony Ericcson Open in Miami, but it was a hard-fought three set win (1-6, 7-6, 7-5).

The last five meetings between them have gone three sets. I'm taking Cibulkova to pull the upset here. 

Men's Feature Matches:

No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 22 Andreas Seppi

Djokovic leads career series 7-0

Djokovic hasn't dropped a set thus far and Seppi has had to battle hard in his last two matches. He is coming off an upset of No. 14 Fernando Verdasco in the third round. It was his second consecutive five-set match.

He shouldn't have to worry about playing five sets against Djokovic. The world's No. 1 player will send him home in three.

No. 5 Jo-Wilifried Tsonga vs. No. 18 Stanislas Wawrinka

Career series tied 1-1

Tsonga is one of tennis' most entertaining players and the French powerhouse had his best performance of the tournament in the third round. He beat Fabio Fognini in straight sets (7-5, 6-4, 6-4). 

Wawrinka outlasted hometown favorite Gilles Simon in an epic five-set battle. The match featured two tie-breakers and you have to wonder if Wawrinka will have enough in the tank for Tsonga.

I'm thinking not, and Tsonga marches into the quarterfinals.

No. 9 Juan Martin Del Potro vs. No. 7 Tomas Berdych

Del Potro Leads Career Series 3-2

This should be the day's most competitive match as it features two top 10-seeded players. Berdych was tested by the big-serving Kevin Anderson in Round 3, but he had cruised before then.

I think he evens the career series with Del Potro and moves on to the quarterfinals.

Here is the entire Men's and Women's singles schedule for Day 8

from RolandGarrros.com

Court Philippe Chatrier

11:00 a.m. Start
Women's Singles - 4th Round
Svetlana Kuznetsova(RUS)[26] vs. Sara Errani(ITA)[21]

Men's Singles - 4th Round
Novak Djokovic(SRB)[1] vs. Andreas Seppi(ITA)[22]

Men's Singles - 4th Round
Stanislas Wawrinka(SUI)[18] vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga(FRA)[5]

Women's Singles - 4th Round
Sloane Stephens(USA) vs. Samantha Stosur(AUS)[6]

Court Suzanne Lenglen

11:00 a.m. Start
Women's Singles - 4th Round
Angelique Kerber(GER)[10] vs. Petra Martic(CRO)

Women's Singles - 4th Round
Victoria Azarenka(BLR)[1] vs. Dominika Cibulkova(SVK)[15]

Men's Singles - 4th Round
Roger Federer(SUI)[3] vs. David Goffin(BEL)

Men's Singles - 4th Round
Juan Martin Del Potro(ARG)[9] vs. Tomas Berdych(CZE)[7]

Potential Future Matchups

No. 5 Jo-Wilifired Tsonga vs. No. 1 Novak Djokovic

Career series tied at 5-5 

This would be a great quarterfinal matchup out of the first men's group. The winner could very well be looking at a semifinal matchup with Roger Federer. Both men have had their classic encounters with Fed.

Djokovic won a five-set masterpiece over Federer at the 2011 US Open. Tsonga beat Federer at Wimbledon in 2011 in a five-set thriller. But Federer owns the career series edge against both men.

Check out this amazing sequence from Tsonga-Federer at Wimbledon:

This is the point where the stars begin to shine,  and this would be a great way to kick off the most thrilling part of the tournament.

No. 1 Victoria Azarenka vs. No. 6 Samantha Stosur

Azarenka leads career series 5-0

Stosur would be looking for her first win over Azarenka, and the winner may have a fairly easy path to the final. The highest seeds from group two have been eliminated. The winner of this match could very well face an unseeded player, or at least lower seeded opponent in the semifinals.

Check back for more coverage of the 2012 French Open until champions are crowned.

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