French Open 2013: Contenders That Won't Survive Quarterfinals

With the quarterfinals of the 2013 French Open about to get underway, there are several contenders that need to be on high alert.

For the most part, every top seed in both the men and women’s bracket at Roland Garros this year is still alive. But with the number of remaining players dwindling with each round, highly anticipated matches are going to start sending some of the world’s best home early.

Only four men and four women are going to escape the quarterfinal round and it seems unlikely after four rounds of play that all the top seeds continue to play well enough to win. In the quarterfinals, some contenders will fall.

Here are three players that will fail to overcome their opponents and have their French Open title hopes destroyed.  

David Ferrer, No. 4 Seed

David Ferrer will attempt to make it back to the semifinals at Roland Garros for the second straight year, but will have to get through Tommy Robredo first—and that might not be too easy.

Ferrer has had a relatively easy run through the first four rounds at the French Open. He’s won in straight sets each time and only lost five games in his most recent victory over Kevin Anderson.

That fact that Ferrer hasn’t been tested at Roland Garros yet is a double-edged sword. He’s cruised thus far, but now will be going up against some of the top players in the world in the coming rounds. Robredo is far from a top seed, but he’s been playing like a contender to this point in the tournament.

Robredo, who is playing in his 11th French Open, is seeking to advance to the semifinals for the first time in his career. Outside of a first-round victory over Jurgen Zopp, Robredo has had to fight through five sets in his other three matches.

Robredo survived against Nicholas Almagro, the No. 11 seed at Roland Garros, after dropping the first two sets of the match. Robredo is far from an easy out and will definitely give Ferrer a hard-fought battle. Robredo’s never-say-die attitude could earn him a spot in the semifinal.

Agnieszka Radwanska, No. 4 Seed

There’s no way that Agnieszka Radwanska is going to be able to make it through to the semifinals. Sara Errani is much too talented on clay and should make quick work of the No. 4 seed.

Radwanska enters the quarterfinals having won all four previous matches at Roland Garros in straight sets. She made No. 14 seed Ana Ivanovic look like a nobody out on the court, dropping just six games total throughout the match. She has yet to allow an opponent to take advantage of the rare mistakes she’s made thus far.

Radwanska is not much of a clay-court player though, which will soon become a problem. She came into the French Open with a 1-2 record on clay during the year, losing in the second round at Madrid Open and Rome Open. Her next opponent, Errani, is one of the best there is on clay.

Errani is 15-3 on the season on clay, including her four victories at Roland Garros. She wasn’t very successful early in her career at the French Open, getting eliminated in the first or second round through her first four appearances, but lost in the final a year ago.

Radwanska does hold the head-to-head advantage, winning all three meetings between her and Errani. She even beat Errani on clay last year at the Madrid Open. But Errani’s play on clay this year and experience in the past makes her the favorite, even though Radwanska is the higher seed.

Roger Federer, No. 2 Seed

Roger Federer is in trouble after just squeaking by Gilles Simon in his fourth-round match. After the Swiss won the opening set, Simon won the next two and pushed Federer to the brink of elimination. Federer battled back and managed to win the next two though, advancing to the quarterfinals.

Federer was perfect coming into the fourth round, winning each of his three prior matches at the French Open in straight sets. But before taking on Simon, much like the aforementioned Ferrer, Federer never really faced much competition. Simon was the No. 15 seed at the French Open and nearly knocked Federer out.

Federer also had an awkward fall to the ground where his foot twisted against Simon, but told the Associated Press (via the Times Herald-Record) that he didn’t hurt himself. If Federer’s foot begins to hurt before his quarterfinal matchup, that could play a role when he tries to defeat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the No. 6 seed.

Tsonga had won all four matches in straight sets and is ready to end his previous woes at the French Open. In five appearances, he’s never made it past the quarterfinal round. Twice he’s fallen in the fourth round. This year will be different, though, as he’s been on fire while Federer hasn’t been great.

Federer is the only person outside of Rafael Nadal to win at the French Open since 2005, winning the title in 2009. He’s come close the last three years, but will fall in the quarterfinals for the second time in his last trio of appearances at Roland Garros.