French Open 2013: Most Feared Underdogs in 4th Round at Roland Garros

While a majority of the men's and women's favorites at the 2013 French Open have rolled into the fourth round of the draw at Roland Garros, there are a handful of dangerous sleepers to keep an eye on heading into the second week in Paris.

On the women's side, there are a number of underdogs capable of crashing the quarterfinal party on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, the men's draw also features a pair of notable outside contenders.

Below we'll highlight the most feared underdogs remaining in the men's and women's draw heading into the fourth round this weekend.

Kevin Anderson (23)

At 6'8", South African Kevin Anderson is a legitimate threat to upend 2012 French Open semifinalist David Ferrer in the fourth round.

Anderson is coming off the best Grand Slam run of his career last January at the 2013 Australian Open and is now in the midst of another, per SuperSport Blitz:

Anderson took Ferrer out in three sets on the hard courts at Indian Wells last March in their most recent meeting. 

While Ferrer's ability to maneuver on clay is superb, Anderson's ridiculous height advantage could give the 31-year-old Spaniard problems, especially on serve. If Anderson can continue to put roughly 70 percent of his first serves in the box, he should fare well against Ferrer on Sunday.

Svetlana Kuznetsova

It's not often a former champion is an underdog at a Grand Slam, but that's the case for 2009 French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova. The unseeded 27-year-old Russian will have to upset eighth-seeded German Angelique Kerber in Round 4 in order to advance to the quarterfinals.

But many believe she's capable of beating the younger Kerber.

Prior to last year, Kerber hadn't been past the second round at Roland Garros and was desperate for a result. Her quarterfinal appearance in 2012 was impressive, but hardly compared to Kuznetsova's championship run here four years ago.

This is one of the more likely upsets this weekend as Kuznetsova enters with a lot of momentum having won her third-round match in straight sets. 

Kei Nishikori (13)

Top-ranked Japanese men's player Kei Nishikori is in uncharted territory this summer at Roland Garros as he prepares to play in the fourth round of the French Open for the first time in his career. 

Unfortunately, the 23-year-old will be up against seven-time tournament champion Rafael Nadal in the round of 16, which doesn't bode well considering Nadal has lost here only once in his career. 

Nevertheless, Nishikori is still alive and in the mix. He defeated 24th-seeded Benoit Paire in four sets in the third round, punishing Paire on his second serve and committing nearly half as many unforced errors as the Frenchman.

Plus, with Nadal showing signs of vulnerability in the early goings of this tournament, Nishikori will have a better chance to shock the world than he would have in past years. 

Francesca Schiavone

Like Kuznetsova, Italian Francesca Schiavone has won the French Open in the past, conquering Roland Garros for the first and only time in 2010. And after trouncing 13th-seeded Marion Bartoli in the third round on Saturday, Schiavone has to be considered among the most dangerous underdogs still alive.

Up next for Schiavone, third-seeded Victoria Azarenka. 

Two-time defending Aussie Open champion Azarenka will be the favorite to advance to the quarterfinals, but she hardly looks like a lock at this point.

After all, Schiavone was in complete control of the match against Bartoli, winning 73 percent of her service points, smashing 31 winners in all and committing just 13 unforced errors in the straight-sets victory.

If the 32-year-old plays like that on Monday, Azarenka will be in serious danger of being bounced from the French Open in the fourth round for the second straight year.

Sloane Stephens (17)

Up-and-coming American Sloane Stephens is heading into the fourth round of the French Open with loads of confidence after surviving Marina Erakovic in three sets in Round 3.

The 2013 Australian Open semifinalist will square off against defending champion Maria Sharapova on Monday in a match that the Russian star will be heavily favored to win. Still, the 20-year-old challenger is a threat to pull off the upset. 

Stephens has dropped just one set through the first three rounds, and who can forget how strong she looked last January when she upset a surging Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Aussie Open?

Add in the fact that she's hitting more and more winners round after round in Paris and it's not difficult to see why the reigning French Open champion, Sharapova, should be concerned.

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