On Saturday in Paris, the first week of the fortnight concludes, with third round singles action to be completed.
The women’s lineup features Major champions Petra Kvitova, Garbine Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko, and Sofia Kenin. But in a women’s draw where only nine of 32 seeds remain, Saturday’s best WTA matchup may be the only one between two seeded players. On the men’s side, we are fortunate to have two clashes today between top 20 seeds. And Novak Djokovic looks to build on his 33-1 record in 2020, with his only loss being his US Open default.
Roberto Bautista Agut (10) vs. Pablo Carreno Busta (17)
That default of course came against Carreno Busta, who pushed Djokovic to the breaking point with his fight back in the first set of their fourth round match. Pablo would go on to defeat Denis Shapovalov in the quarterfinals, and was only one set away from reaching the championship match of the US Open. Bautista Agut also pushed Djokovic in New York, taking Novak all the way to a final set tiebreak in the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open. While both of these Spaniards have achieved their best Major results on hard courts or grass, they’re not bad on the clay either. Carreno Busta was a quarterfinalist here three years ago, and has reached the final of four clay court events. Bautista Agut’s clay resume is a bit more modest: he’s never been beyond the fourth round of Roland Garros, and only one of his nine career finals came on this surface. They’ve split their four previous tour level matches, with Bautista Agut claiming their only match on clay (Rome, 2017) as well as their only match at a Major (US Open, 2015). All four of their battles have gone the distance, which displays just how similar their styles are. There’s no reason to believe this won’t be another extended, compelling encounter, between two of the sport’s most underrated competitors.
Karen Khachanov (15) vs. Cristian Garin (20)
This will be the first career meeting between these two 24-year-olds who were born just nine days apart. And their records this season are as close as their birthdays: Khachanov is 16-10, while Garin is 17-10. The Russian has been the one to achieve more success at big events. Khachanov’s career highlights have both come in this city: he was a French Open quarterfinalist a year ago, and the champion of the Paris Indoors Masters 1,000 event six months prior. While the Chilean’s triumphs have come at smaller events, he’s been the one to collect more trophies. Garin has won four clay court titles, all within the last 18 months. But this is the first time Cristian has reached the third round of a Major. So what will prevail on this day: the big match experience of the heavier-hitting Khachanov, or the clay court prowess of Garin? Confidence may be the difference today, and that would be to Cristian’s advantage. Garin has won five of his last six matches, while Khachanov is yet to win three consecutive matches since the tour restart.
Aryna Sabalenka (8) vs Ons Jabeur (30)
In another first-ever meeting, Sabalenka faces one of the WTA’s most eclectic players for the second consecutive round. Two days ago, she was tested in the first set by Daria Kasatkina, but dominated the second set 6-0 after taking a first set tiebreak. Since making her breakthrough in mid-2018, she’s won six singles titles. And in doubles with partner Elise Mertens, she’s reached the quarterfinals or better at the last five Majors. However, the 22-year-old is yet to reach a Slam quarterfinal in singles. Ons Jabeur did just that earlier this year in Melbourne. The 26-year-old is having the best year of her career. Jabeur has accumulated 24 match wins in this shortened season. Neither woman would refer to clay as their best surface, though the slower conditions would seem to favor the guile of Jabeur over the power of Sabalenka. But judging by Aryna’s impressive performance over a similar player on Thursday, she may be the favorite to advance again today.
Garbine Muguruza (11) vs. Danielle Collins
The winner of this match will face either Sabalenka or Jabeur in the round of 16. And like Sabalenka, these two love to blast the ball. Muguruza has been one of 2020’s best players, as reuniting with Conchita Martinez has brought her back to the top of the game. She was the runner-up in Melbourne, and has reached the quarterfinals or better in all but one event played. Collins was a surprise semifinalist at last year’s Australian Open, as the American had previously never won a match at a Major. The 26-year-old is hard to beat when she’s on, but her go-for-all mentality can often lead to large amounts of errors. They’ve met once before, last year on clay in Rome, where Muguruza prevailed in three. The 2016 champion should be able to repeat that result today.
Petra Kvitova (7) vs Leylah Fernandez
Kvitova was a semifinalist here eight years ago, but is just 12-6 in Paris since that time. But these cooler conditions must please the two-time Wimbledon champion, with her struggles in warmer temperatures well documented. She may be one of the players who prefers this tournament taking place in autumn. But she may be tested today by a fast-rising Canadian teenager, who was the junior champion here a year ago. 18-year-old Fernandez started this season outside the top 200, but is now ranked inside the top 100. Leylah has successfully come through qualifying at four events this year, including in Acapulco where she eventually advanced to the final. Fernandez has a ton of potential, but Kvitova has consistently played well this year, and can control her destiny today with her lefty serve and forehand.
Other Notable Matches on Day 7:
17-time Major champion Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Daniel Elahi Galan (LL), a 24-year-old from Columbia ranked 153rd in the world.
Recent Hamburg champion Andrey Rublev (13) vs. Kevin Anderson, who outlasted Dusan Lajovic in a five-setter on Thursday evening.
Hamburg runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) vs. Aljaz Bedene, a 31-year-old Slovenian who has never advanced farther than the third round at a Major.
2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko vs. Paula Badosa, a 22-year-old Spaniard who has never before advanced this far at a Slam. Ostapenko defeated Karolina Pliskova on Thursday, while Badosa took out Sloane Stephens.
Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin (4) vs. Irina Bara (Q), a 25-year-old Romanian who had never played a main draw match at a Major prior to this week.
Saturday’s full schedule is here.