French Open 2015: Sunday Schedule and Predictions for Roland Garros Bracket
The first full week of the 2015 French Open is finally in the books, which means that gripping fourth-round matches are on the horizon as stars unmistakably receive their toughest competition yet at Roland Garros.
Save for a handful of unseeded surprises who have navigated through to the round of 16, matchups on Sunday's slate are largely between low seeds with plenty to prove. Matches at this time of the tournament are typically rematches between well-established contenders in the sport, making it even tougher to reign supreme against opponents who are used to each other's games.
Take a look below for information on how to catch Sunday's action, as well as predictions.
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2015 French Open: Sunday, May 31
| 5 a.m. - 1 p.m. | French Open Round 4 | Tennis Channel |
| 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. | French Open Round 4 | NBC |
Day 8 Schedule and Predictions
| No. 2 Roger Federer vs. No. 13 Gael Monfils | Philippe-Chatrier (3rd) | Federer |
| No. 4 Tomas Berdych vs. No. 14 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga | Philippe-Chatrier (2nd) | Berdych |
| No. 5 Kei Nishikori vs. Teymuraz Gabashvili | Suzanne-Lenglen (2nd) | Nishikori |
| No. 8 Stan Wawrinka vs. No. 12 Gilles Simon | Suzanne-Lenglen (3rd) | Simon |
| No. 2 Maria Sharapova vs. No. 13 Lucie Safarova | Suzanne-Lenglen (4th) | Sharapova |
| No. 7 Ana Ivanovic vs. No. 9 Ekaterina Makarova | Suzanne-Lenglen (1st) | Ivanovic |
| No. 19 Elina Svitolina vs. No. 29 Alize Cornet | Philippe-Chatrier (1st) | Cornet |
| No. 21 Garbine Muguruza vs. No. 28 Flavia Pennetta | Philippe-Chatrier (4th) | Muguruza |
No. 2 Roger Federer vs. No. 13 Gael Monfils
Two familiar foes will meet Sunday for a spot in the quarterfinals, as Roger Federer takes on France's own Gael Monfils in a sure thriller.
Everything about the history between these two suggests a memorable match is in the cards. Monfils has won the last two meetings with the Swiss legend, but Federer got the best of him in an instant-classic 2014 U.S. Open quarterfinal—which Monfils led two sets to none before letting it slip away.
While Monfils has struggled with inconsistency throughout his career, there's never been any doubt that he's among the best athletes in the sport. When he's furiously chasing shots and pummeling his serve, he's almost unbeatable. Federer gave his future opponent some props after his third-round win, per TennisWorldItalia.com's Chiara Gambuzza:
Monfils has frustrated Federer as of late for a reason—it's been no fluke. But it's impossible to ignore the dominance Federer is showing so far at Roland Garros, while Monfils has already dropped three sets in Paris.
Federer is in the midst of his last great chance to win a second French Open. Monfils will be able to generate some early momentum, but he won't be able to channel it for the duration of the match.
Prediction: Federer wins in four sets
No. 2 Maria Sharapova vs. No. 13 Lucie Safarova
While top-seeded Serena Williams has struggled mightily thus far at Roland Garros, Maria Sharapova has shown no such signs entering a fourth-round match with No. 13 Lucie Safarova.
While Williams is still standing after a tough slew of matches, the same can't be said of many top seeds on the women's side as Sharapova is one of few still left, as Jose Morgado of Diario Record observed:
Safarova should present the type of challenge that Sharapova hasn't yet faced at Roland Garros. She has one career victory over the Russian, and it came on clay—but it was way back in 2010.
Ever since, Sharapova is a perfect 4-0 against Safarova, including two wins on the clay surface. The defending French Open champion has been virtually unstoppable at Roland Garros for anyone not named Williams, and that will continue in a comprehensive win.
Prediction: Sharapova wins in straight sets
No. 8 Stan Wawrinka vs. No. 12 Gilles Simon
The struggles that Stan Wawrinka faced at last year's French Open are a thing of the past, but they look as if they could resurface in a tough fourth-round meeting with No. 12 Gilles Simon.
After falling in the first round of play a year ago, Wawrinka is a man on a mission thus far in 2015, proving more dangerous than his No. 8 seed indicates with three convincing victories. Simon had to overcome a five-set test from Nicolas Mahut in Round 3.
Although Simon has had a tougher go of things so far at Roland Garros, he's generated some success against Wawrinka, winning two of their five career matches. That includes two of the last three since the start of the 2012 campaign.
Simon showed no signs of fearing his upcoming opponent, as per ATPWorldTour.com:
"We know how good a player he can be on a court. He's a player I have known for quite a long time now, so I know exactly what to expect. I know what he can do well on a court, what he can do less well. So I'll try to play that match using my strength and my strong shots.
"
That familiarity will pay off for Simon in front of a raucous home crowd, while Wawrinka will fall victim to a late surge from the Frenchman.
Prediction: Simon wins in five sets
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