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  • French Open day 4 - 3rd quarter previews

    5/28/08 8:28 AM | David Cox
    - After 2 days of mostly solid rain, hopefully we'll see some play today in Roland Garros. Djokovic and Berdych among others will be looking to secure their passage into the last 32

    Tomas Berdych (11) vs Michael Llodra

    Berdych had one of the most convincing wins of the opening round, powering past the hapless Rob Smeets 6-1, 6-0, 6-0. The 11th seed has much to prove after missing most of the clay season - injury keeping him out for over a month before he returned in Hamburg, losing to Safin in straight sets. He was straight back into form in Dusseldorf last week though, beating Blake and Canas and only losing to Robin Soderling who eventually lifted the title with Sweden. Berdych has won all 3 previous meetings with Llodra, the last one coming at this stage in Wimbledon last year, Berdych winning an epix 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6. Llodra was one of the year’s form players for the first couple of months after titles in Adelaide and Rotterdam. However, he’s struggled since on the slower courts and had only won 1/8 matches before this tournament (a surprising win over Canas in Hamburg !) but he struggled past compatriot Oliver Patiencce 3-6, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5 in round 1

    Prediction: Berdych in 3


    Eduardo Schwank vs Marcel Granollers

    How much did the effort against Carlos Moya take out of marathon man Schwank ? That is the key question which will probably determine the outcome of this match. With reports of a mild back injury before the opening round got underway, will Schwank have anything left to give after spending nearly 4 hours on court against Moya. His coach Javier (brother of David Nalbandian) predicts big things for his charge and if fit he’ll be hot favourite to make the 3rd round here and make his winning streak 20 after 3 straight challenger titles in Cremona, Rome and Bordeaux. He won his only previous match against world no 51 Granollers 6-2, 6-3 in the Bueno Aires challenger 2 years ago. Granollers has been no slouch himself on the clay this year, a shock winner of the Houston title, beating Blake in the final. He wasn’t always at his best against Michael Berrer in rd1, winning in 4 sets

    Prediction: If fit Schwank in 4


    Novak Djokovic (3) vs Miguel Angel Jaen

    At times on Sunday, Djokovic’s title hopes looked well and truly in the balance as Denis Gremelmayr ripped winners from just about anywhere on the Phillip Chatrier court. Eventually Djokovic asserted himself and stamped authority on the match and he’ll be hoping for an easier passage against this Spanish qualifier ranked outside the top 250. Angel Jaen is a huge hitter but very inconsistent, he got bagelled twice in the qualifying !

    Prediction: Djokovic in 3

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