Fourth round Preview

By Chris Davies
June 1 2003

All the players take part today and are all previewed with one or two possible upsets on the cards of the fourth round at Roland Garros

(1) Serena Williams (USA) v (16) Ai Sugiyama (Jap)

Sugiyama has played impressive tennis but Serena is in fantastic shape and form considering very little clay court match practice and 2 loses on the clay. The American did not lose a game in the last round winning 6-0, 6-0 but was not challenged in this match she will be challenged by the small Japanese woman. Ai Sugiyama has beaten world number 2 Kim Clijsters this year and could come close to beating the world number one has their match is the first on Suzanne Lenglen. Serena is not a morning person giving a slight advantage to the 16th seed to gain a good lead early in the first set and possibly gaining that first set if she does so then she will need to stay on the top of her game. But the world number one has a lot too lose here and will be giving everything moving into a quarter-final clash with Amelie Mauresmo!

Serena wins in straight sets!


(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) v (15) Magdalena Maleeva (BUL)

Clijsters is on a roll at the moment and should comfortably if not absolutely demolish the Bulgarian 15th seed in a very fast time. Maleeva has not had the best of times this year but her form has picked up at the second grand slam of the year and will be in the locker rooms before she knows it.

Clijsters rolls on again getting stronger and stronger!

(3) Venus Wililams (USA) v (22) Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

Zvonareva is one of the names of the year rising to the world number 22 position and will be a huge threat once all of her game comes together and when she has some wins over big names. That big win could happen today has Venus Williams still struggling with her abdominal injury will be up to the test has this Russian has all the qualities to say Au revoir to the number 3 seed. If Zvonareva is on top of her game right at the begining and Williams isn't then she could breeze through to her first ever Grand Slam quarter-final.

Zvonareva in 3 sets!

(4) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) v (19) Patty Schnyder (SUI)
These players met at the German Open with Schnyder giving little resistance to the great Henin-Hardenne who comfortably won. On paper this match could be a good see-saw occassion but Henin-Hardenne is way above most of the field.

Henin-Hardenne into quarter-finals yet again!

(5) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) v Magui Serna (SPA)

This is Mauresmo's hardest test but one she should get through pretty comfortably in the end. Serna has won two titles on clay this year but they were smaller events and hasn't played well in the tier 1 tournaments where Mauresmo as. The fifth seed sets up a mouthwatering quarter-final against Serena Williams.

Mauresmo in straight sets but will be tricky at times!

(6) Lindsay Davenport (USA) v (24) Conchita Maritinez (SPA)

Davenport has not played that well in her last two matches due to a trapped nerve in her left foot. Martinez is a superb clay court player and has beaten Daniela Hantuchova and Jelena Dokic at the Italian Open but Davenport is a complete different opponent to any of those. Lindsay will be moved around a lot which means her movement needs to be on top form today if not she may be in trouble.

Davenport in straight sets!

(7) Jennifer Capriati (USA) v Nadia Petrova (RUS)

If Capriati gets through this match easy then she will be a big favourite for her second Roland Garros title. Petrova is a talented player who could have been in the top 20 if her injuries didn't come at the wrong time but is making that up with an even bigger serve and more powerful groundstrokes. The pair met at the Italian Open which was a close battle where Capriati was not in her best form and should come through it easier this time has she knows what to do and knows how to do it.

Capriati in straight sets!


(8) Chanda Rubin (USA) v Petra Mandula (HUN)

Chanda Rubin struggled in her last match but the Hungarian has had impressive wins but this is has far had it goes for her. Rubin will get through this in under an hour with a quarter-final clash against Henin-Hardenne.

Rubin goes through to quarters in straight!