French Open 2015: Predictions for Top Singles Stars of Sunday's Draw Schedule
Two No. 2 seeds will file for quarterfinal admission during Sunday's French Open draw.
Kicking off the fourth round at Roland Garros, Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova each face an unlucky No. 13 seed after sweeping three opponents in straight sets.
With many top contenders already ousted, Sharapova is again favored to reach her fourth consecutive French Open final. Federer, the only active French Open winner apart from nine-time champion Rafael Nadal, faces a much tougher task against a familiar foe.
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Courtesy of RolandGarros.com and Tennis.com, here's a look at Sunday's schedule.
| 5 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Fourth Round | Tennis Channel |
| 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Fourth Round | NBC |
No. 2 Roger Federer vs. No. 13 Gael Monfils
When Federer last faced Gael Monfils during a Grand Slam tournament, he dropped the first two sets before rallying to win last year's U.S. Open quarterfinal. Federer has taken eight of 12 meetings, but the mercurial Monfils has emerged victorious in the last two bouts, both on clay.
In typical Monfils fashion, he has dipped each round in drama. The 28-year-old needed five sets to advance past his second and third matchups, each time rallying after dropping the first and third sets.
Those late theatrics are nothing new for Monfils, who has made a habit of such French Open finishes. Roland Garros' official Twitter page tracked his late heroics:
A pair of close calls, however, puts him in a vulnerable spot against the well-rested Federer, who has yet to lose a set this tournament. Monfils relies on his athleticism to dart around the court, but he might wear down before his older adversary.
Federer has beat the French native in both of their meetings at Roland Garros, and the 2009 champion should now know not to let his guard down at any time. The savvy veteran and energetic underdog will once again produce a thrilling matchup, one that sees Federer advance after his toughest challenge yet.
Prediction: Federer in five sets
No. 2 Maria Sharapova vs. No. 13 Lucie Safarova
Playing the first week through a cold, Sharapova still upended her competition with little difficulty. She spoke of her sickness to espnW.com's Jim Caple after besting Samantha Stosur 6-3, 6-4 during Friday's third-round matchup.
"I'm getting better. I might not sound like it, but I am,'' she said. "I have never felt like that on the court playing a Grand Slam, so this is kind of new. I'm just trying to do the best that I can with the circumstances.''
She was blunt about her performance when speaking to reporters, per Roland Garros:
Cold aside, she continues to dominate the French Open, where she has won 23 of her last 24 matchups. After struggling on the surface early in her career, she is quickly becoming The Queen of Clay.
While Lucie Safarova has also won all her slates in straight sets, three of the six went to tiebreakers, including a wild 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (11-9) Round 1 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. She has never lasted past the fourth round in 10 French Open tries, but the 28-year-old made the semifinals at last year's Wimbledon.
Safarova's one and only win over Sharapova came five years ago, with Sharapova seizing the last four matchups. Although lopsided in the final outcome, six of those 11 sets went to tiebreakers.
In another tightly contested battle, Sharapova sustains her clay prowess and advances to the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Sharapova in straight sets
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