French Open 2012 Schedule: Day 10 TV Coverage, Matches and Bracket Guide
The fourth round of the French Open has provided us with a few different realizations:
1. Andy Murray’s back may take a while to warm up, but there is no question he is still incredibly dangerous and capable of making a shocking run to the title.
2. Rafael Nadal looks unbeatable.
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After destroying No. 13 Juan Monaco 6-2, 6-0, 6-0, there is no question that the favorite at Roland Garros is Rafa. It reminds us that he has a 49-1 record at the event, and if he were to lose, it would be the biggest upset of the year.
3. With No. 1 seeded Victoria Azarenka out, this is Maria Sharapova’s event to lose. While she hasn’t played the most efficient tennis thus far, there is no question she is the most talented player remaining on a watered down woman’s side. Anything less than a win would be a major disappointment.
Now we enter the quarterfinals, where there is a mix of elite talents and players riding hot streaks still standing. Here is everything you need to know about Day 10 at the French Open.
TV Schedule
| June 5 | 8 a.m. - 1p.m. (Live) | Quarterfinals | Tennis Channel |
| June 5 | 1 p.m. - 7p.m. (Live and Same-Day Tape Delay) | Quarterfinals | ESPN2 |
Notable Matches
Men’s
No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
This match is overflowing with intrigue.
Djoker is fresh off falling behind by two sets before making an improbable comeback, 4-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 over No. 22 Andreas Seppi. He enters the quarterfinals with some serious question marks for the first time in a major event in a year.
There is no doubt his reign of absolute dominance in 2011 is now a distant memory.
He’ll be playing the crowd-favorite Tsonga, who needed an extra day to finish off his fourth round opponent No. 18 Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 3-6, 6-4. His ability to turn it up an extra gear in the final set was very impressive.
But will fatigue be a factor for Tsonga?
No. 3 Roger Federer vs. No. 9 Juan Martin del Potro
FedEx continues to hum along.
While he may not be displaying the dominance of Nadal or the vulnerability of Djokovic, he is playing a very consistent game of tennis right now.
Every single one of his matches have been won in four sets or less as he seems to really be pacing himself well as he reaches his 32nd consecutive quarterfinals appearance in a Grand Slam. Nothing unusual from one of the most experienced tennis players of all-time.
He’ll be playing one of the hotter players right now in del Potro.
Another player yet to reach a fifth set, his return game has been outstanding thus far which should set up plenty of outstanding volleys between these two on Tuesday.
Women’s
No. 6 Samantha Stosur vs. No. 15 Dominika Cibulkova
Stosur is making a name for herself at Roland Garros by not dropping a single set in her first four matches. Her serve has really given opponents problems.
Dominika Cibulkova shocked Azarenka, and will be entering this match brimming with confidence.
Stosur won their only career meeting and now that her kryptonite Azarenka is toast, as is defending champion No. 7 Li Na, suddenly the door is wide-open for Stosur to make a serious run and she knows it.
Expect her to take full advantage against Cibulkova.
No. 10 Angelique Kerber vs. No. 21 Sara Errani
The German Kerber is in the quarterfinals for the first time in her career, as is the Italian Errani, who is fresh off knocking out the 2009 French Open champion No. 26 Svetlana Kuznetsova.
With the lack of experience on both sides, this is going to be a flip of the coin sort of match with the winner taking the next step up in popularity in the sport.
Lots of sponsorship dollars are on the line for this one.
Here are two potential matchups that could hold some serious intrigue in the semi's.
Men’s
No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 3 Roger Federer
This is the match before the match everyone expects (Djokovic-Nadal), and this might be the one where Federer finally breaks through.
Djokovic was incredible sloppy in his first two sets against Seppi and it makes you wonder if he is as focused and hungry as he was last year.
He knows his insane run of dominance has ended, and it seems to have caught up to him mentally. With Federer’s biological clock ticking, this could be one of his last shots to capture a Grand Slam, and taking advantage of a mentally damaged Djoker is a very realistic scenario.
Women's
No. 6 Samantha Stosur vs. No. 10 Angelique Kerber
Will Kerber’s lack of experience matter?
She had never reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam before, and this would be her first semi’s appearance as well. Stosur has made the French Open finals (2010), and has won the US Open (2011). There is no question Stosur will have the advantage mentally.
With most of the top talents already sent packing, the field is wide open. If Stosur can continue to dominate with one of the greatest forehands in recent history, she has a terrific shot of reaching the finals.
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