French Open 2012 Schedule: Day 9 TV Coverage, Matches and Bracket Guide
Day 9 of the 2012 French Open is almost upon us, and although some big names have bowed out, there will still be plenty of elite players fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Eight of the top 20-seeded men's players will be in action on Monday, as well as three of the top seven women.
The match most Americans will have their eye on is No. 4 Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs. Varvara Lepchenko (USA). Lepchenko, whose Russian heritage made her the subject of persecution in Uzbekistan, fled to America with her family and began representing the USA after gaining citizenship in 2007.
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The 26-year-old has a touching story, and she will add to it if she can reach her first career Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros. She'll certainly have her hands full, though, as Kvitova reached the semifinals at the 2012 Australian Open and beat Lepchenko 6-1, 6-2 in their lone career meeting.
I'm expecting Lepchenko's magical run end on Monday, but seeing as how she upset 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone in the third round, anything is possible.
Here is everything you need to know about the rest of the Day 9 action.
TV Coverage:
| June 4 | 5 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Live) | Round of 16 | Tennis Channel |
| June 4 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Live) | Round of 16 | NBC |
All Times Eastern
Other Women's Feature Match
No. 7 Li Na (CHN) vs. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)
Na leads career series 1-0
These two have only met once before, but with Li Na defending her 2011 French Open title, this will be one of the more high-profile matches on the day.
The first time these two faced each other was on the grass at Birmingham, with Na eventually winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-0.
Na fended off American Christina McHale 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the third round, and I'm expecting her to defeat Shvedova as well. However, with several top women getting eliminated, including world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, you certainly shouldn't pencil Na into the quarterfinals just yet.
Men's Feature Matches
No. 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. No. 13 Juan Monaco (ARG)
Nadal leads career series 3-1
Rafael Nadal has been crushing his opponents at Roland Garros, winning all three of his matches in straight sets.
The King of Clay has looked quite comfortable while cruising to the fourth round, and he seems primed to win his seventh career French Open title. That would give him the all-time record, as he is currently tied with Bjorn Borg.
Standing in his way is Monaco, the Argentinean who beat Nadal on hard court back in 2007. Nadal has dominated his counterpart on clay, however, winning all three matches by straight sets.
I'm expecting Nadal to rack up another victory vs. Monaco and advance to the quarterfinals.
No. 4 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. No. 17 Richard Gasquet (FRA)
Career series tied 3-3
In what should be one of the most competitive matches of the day, the home crowd favorite Gasquet will attempt to beat Murray for the first time in a Grand Slam.
Murray has won all three times they've faced each other Grand Slams, with two of those victories coming after he dropped the first two sets. Gasquet may finally be able to take down Murray on the big stage, though, after upsetting him 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2 at the Italian Open just two weeks ago.
This won will be hotly contested and could really go either way. In the end, I think Gasquet will prevail with the help of a friendly Paris crowd.
Complete Day 9 Schedule
Courtesy of rolandgarros.com
| Court Philippe Chatrier 11:00 a.m. Start |
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| Court Suzanne Lenglen 11:00 AM Start |
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Potential Quarterfinal Matchups
Men's Singles
No. 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)
Nadal leads career series 3-0
No. 4 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. No. 6 David Ferrer (ESP)
Murray leads career series 5-4
Women's Singles
No. 4 Petra Kvitova (CZE) vs. No. 7 Li Na (CHN)
Na leads career series 2-1
No. 2 Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. No. 23 Kaia Kanepi (EST)
Career series tied 0-0
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