French Open Schedule 2013: Day 12 Matchups, Predictions and Analysis

Everything went according to plan for the top seeds at the 2013 French Open on Wednesday.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal advanced on the men's side, while Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka advanced on the women's side.

Sharapova and Azarenka will start things off in the semifinals on Thursday, while world No. 1 Serena Williams and Sara Errani will follow.

Here's a look at the day's matchups, complete with broadcast information and my predictions.

Schedule for Day 12 (via Tennis.com)

Thursday, June 6	9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET	Semifinals	ESPN2
Thursday, June 6	11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET	Semifinals	NBC

Singles Matchups

Court	Match
Philippe Chatrier	Victoria Azarenka (3) vs. Maria Sharapova (2)
	Serena Williams (1) vs. Sara Errani (5)

Schedule of play and statistics are courtesy of the official Roland Garros website.

Predictions for Thursday's Matches

Victoria Azarenka (3) vs. Maria Sharapova (2)

By golly, should this be a battle.

Sharapova—the reigning champion at Roland Garros—was 30-4 with two singles titles headed into this year's French Open. 

Azarenka—the world No. 3—was 22-2 with two singles titles. That included an Australian Open title.

Azarenka is 7-5 lifetime against Sharapova and the two have gone back and forth throughout the years. While Sharapova won their most recent matchup in Istanbul last year, Azarenka went 4-2 against Sharapova in 2012.

On the other hand, Sharapova is 2-0 against Azarenka on clay (Rome in 2011, Stuttgart in 2012). Since 2008, the 26-year-old Russian has a victory, a semifinals appearance and a quarterfinals appearance at Roland Garros. This is Azarenka's first time making it to the semifinals in her career.

Asked by a reporter to describe her relationship with clay, the lively Azarenka quipped, via Tennis.com: "I still don't have any ring on my finger. But I feel like, you know, we made a step forward. We are moving in together."

Then again, Azarenka played very well against world No. 12 Maria Kirilenko in the quarterfinals.

This is probably the closest match of the tournament I've predicted so far. Even with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Roger Federer, I felt strongly about Tsonga. 

In the end, I don't think Azarenka is quite ready to beat Sharapova on clay, particularly at the French Open.

In any case, watch out for your ears, as Amanda Rykoff of ESPNW.com warns:

Prediction: Sharapova 3-6, 6-4, 7-5

Serena Williams (1) vs. Sara Errani (5)

I will admit that I expected Agnieszka Radwanska to edge Sara Errani and that Errani played better than I expected. For that, Errani deserves credit.

On the other hand, this is Serena Williams we're talking about. She was 36-2 with five singles titles coming into the 2013 French Open and she's dropped only one set in the tournament.

On top of that, Williams is 5-0 lifetime against Errani, including a straight-set victory over the Italian on clay in Madrid this year.

I'd like to say this is going to be a battle, for the sheer sake of competitiveness, but the reality is I just don't see it.

But don't ask me, ask Williams' quarterfinals opponent, Svetlana Kuznetsova, per Christopher Clarey of the New York Times:

Prediction: Williams 6-3, 6-4