(5) Jelena Jankovic (ESP) vs. Sorana Cirstea (ROU)

Jankovic has yet to drop a set in any of her three matches, and has moved through the draw quietly. Many people forget that she is a two-time semifinalist here and has had solid results on clay in the past. Don’t discount Jankovic’s chances of winning this title because she is more than capable of beating anyone.

Cirstea is making her first appearance in the fourth round of any Grand Slam. Before this tournament, the 19-year old had never been out of the second round of any Grand Slam she had played in. She reached the semis in Marbella and the quarters in Estoril (both clay court tournaments) before the French.

Match-up:

This is the first career meeting between Jankovic and Cirstea. This match is on Jankovic’s racket. If she plays her game she will win. She has the experience, the know-how, and is finally looking like the player she was last year. Cirstea is tough though and has picked up good wins over Cornet and Wozniacki in the last two rounds so I wouldn’t be surprised to see this match go three sets. Look for Jankovic to use her excellent movement and fantastic two-handed backhand to control the match and advance.

Nick’s Pick  — Jankovic in 3 sets

(2) Serena Williams (USA) vs. (24) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)

Serena cannot stay away from controversy right now. Before the French she called out Safina and then in her last match she claimed her opponent cheated. She needs to focus on what she can do and forget about everyone else. When Serena is on and healthy there is no one better.

This is already Wozniak’s best showing ever at a Grand Slam. The 21-year old Canadian comes into the tournament ranked No. 24 in the world, which is her career high, and she did reach the finals in Ponte Vedra Beach on clay back in April. In her three wins so far at Roland Garros, she hasn’t played anyone inside the top-50.

Match-up:

Wozniak and Serena have met once before, and Serena had to retire in that match after losing the first set and being down 3-1 in the second. I don’t think that will have any bearing on this match at all. Serena isn’t at the top of her game right now, but even at 85 percent she is still better than most on the tour. Wozniak is a big girl who strikes the ball very well and she will not be intimidated at all by Serena. I think Serena knows that she needs to step it up now and play her best and that is bad news for everyone else!

Nick’s Pick  — Serena Williams in 2 sets

(5) Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs. (9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)

Del Potro came away with a straight-set win over Igor Andreev in the third round and is into the Round of 16 at Roland Garros for the first time in his career. Del Potro has been to the quarters of both the US Open and Australian Open, but if he could win here it would be his first at the French Open.

It took Tsonga only 84 minutes to dispatch of Christophe Rochus in the third round. Like Del Potro this is Tsonga’s first appearance in the fourth round of the French Open and he is trying to get to his second career Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Match-up:

Del Potro is 2-0 against Tsonga, but the two have never met on the clay. Right off the bat, you know that Tsonga will have the crowd behind him and that will be a big advantage. Both players are big boys with powerful groundstrokes and serves. I believe Del Potro probably is a bit more consistent with both his serve and groundies and has had more experience in this situation. The longer this mach goes on, the more it favors Tsonga because of how strong he is and the crowd support. I just think in the end that Del Potro’s consistency will be the difference.

Nick’s Pick — Del Potro in 4 sets 

(2) Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Tommy Haas (GER)

Federer was tested again in the third round as he dropped the first set to Mathieu but was able to come back and win it in four. We know that Federer isn’t the same player he was two years ago, but he is still more than capable of winning multiple Grand Slam titles over the next couple of years.

It is fantastic to see Haas winning matches again on the big stage. I have always thought he could be an excellent clay-court player, but his results at Roland Garros over the years haven’t been the best. He is coming off of injuries, and hasn’t played much this year but he is showing glimpses of what he can do when healthy.

Match-up:

Federer and Haas have met 10 times previously, but none of those have come on clay. Federer is 8-2 in those matches and hasn’t lost to the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy professional since 2002. I can guarantee you that Haas is looking forward to this match. He loves the challenge and will not back down against Federer. He has to take it to Federer every chance he gets. He needs to hit huge forehands down-the-line to Federer’s backhand and put pressure on the former world No. 1. We all know what Federer can do, but Haas can keep this match close. The longer this match goes on, the more it favors Federer because of the variety in his game. Haas has to win this quickly if he wants to advance.

Nick’s Pick — Federer in 4 sets

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Aravane Rezai (FRA)

Coming into the tournament there was a lot of chatter about who is the best player in the world: Safina or Serena. Well, I think Safina has shown that right now she is. Coming into this match against Rezai she has lost a total of four games in six sets! That is incredible and just a testament to how well she is playing and how determined she is to get her first Grand Slam title.

Rezai defeated Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Michelle Larcher de Brito in the third round and is looking to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. The 22-year old Frenchwoman just won the title in Strasbourg on clay right before this tournament began.

Match-up:

This is the first career meeting between Safina and Rezai and promises to be an interesting match. Rezai is a strong girl who stands at only 5-foot-5. She moves around the court very well and will have the crowd on her side throughout the match. Safina cannot let Rezai and the crowd get under her skin, because her biggest problem is losing focus and committing too many unforced errors. So far that hasn’t been a problem, but we have seen episodes in the past where Safina has gone from great to so-so in a matter of seconds. If she doesn’t let that happen then I see her moving on, if Rezai can get her frustrated then who knows!

Nick’s Pick  — Safina in 3 sets

Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. (25) Na Li (CHN)

Sharapova has surprised just about everyone with her play at the French. Having had that long lay-off due to the shoulder injury and with only a couple of matches under her belt this year, no one knew what to expect from the three-time Grand Slam champion. Clay has never been her best surface, but Sharapova is a fighter and she will not go down easily!

Li has yet to drop a set thus far at Roland Garros, but she hasn’t played anyone ranked inside the top-50 yet. This is the first time she has been to the fourth round of the French Open and she is looking to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the second time in her career.

Match-up:

Sharapova is 4-0 against Li, but they haven’t played since 2006. Sharapova has played back-to-back-to-back three set matches and we don’t know if that will have any effect on her because of how few matches she has played recently. One thing we do know, she is going to give Li everything she has and more throughout this match. Both girls have excellent groundstrokes that can really hurt their opponents. The key in this match is Sharapova’s serve. If it is working then she has the edge, if not then Li will pounce all over it. I give Sharapova a slight edge because I know how she fights, but this should be a great match.

Nick’s Pick — Sharapova in 3 sets

(3) Andy Murray (GBR) vs. (13) Marin Cilic (CRO)

Murray is into the fourth round of the French Open for the first time in his career and he got a bit of luck in the third round when Janko Tipsarevic retired at the end of the second set. This should give Murray fresh legs as he looks to get to the quarterfinals and even go possibly further.

In two previous appearances, Cilic had never gone past the second round at Roland Garros. At the age of 20, Cilic is one of the bright young stars on the tour and he is looking to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Match-up:

Murray is 2-0 against Cilic but the two have never met on clay. Cilic is a big boy in every aspect. He’s 6-foot-6, has a killer forehand, a monster serve and moves pretty well. The one thing that Murray can do though is negate that power with excellent defensive play. I’ve set it before and I will say it again, there is maybe no one better on tour than Murray at turning defensive shots into offensive ones. Murray also is more mature and has the experience of playing in this situation previously. When you look at all that, you have to give the edge to the Scot in this match.

Nick’s Pick — Murray in 4 sets

(1) Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. (23) Robin Soderling (SWE)
Nadal had an easy win over former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, losing only five games and committing only 17 unforced errors. He is now 31-0 at Roland Garros which is simply amazing when you think about how tough this surface is play on every other day. Nadal is rolling right now and I have a hard time seeing anyone stop him!
Soderling upset David Ferrer in the third round, taking out the Spaniard in four hard sets. Soderling had never been past the third round in any Grand Slam previous to this one and he should be loose because he has absolutely nothing to lose against Nadal.

Match-up:

Nadal is 3-0 against Soderling and just beat him in Rome a couple of weeks ago 6-1, 6-0. I am sure Soderling will remember that bad loss to Nadal from Rome, but hopefully he learned a little bit from that match. He is a solid ball striker who understands what it takes to win. In this match he is going to have to be a bit adventurous and take some risks and chances. Soderling cannot hang back at the baseline and try and go blow-for-blow against Nadal because he will have no chance. Nadal is way too strong and way to athletic on clay to lose that way. I look for the Nadal train to keep on rolling into the quarterfinals!
Nick’s Pick — Nadal in 3 sets

 (10) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Jill Craybas (USA)

It took Wozniacki over two and a half hours to beat a tough Vera Dushevina in the opening round. She has played well on clay this year, winning the title in Ponte Vedra Beach and reaching the finals in Charleston and Madrid. She hasn’t been past the third round at the French Open in her career, but this year the expectations are very high!

Craybas is a veteran American who has a knack for knocking out top seeds. She has never had great success at Roland Garros, as she has never advanced farther than the second round.

Match-Up:

Wozniacki is 1-0 against Craybas, with that win coming earlier this year in Auckland. Craybas is a fighter and will not hesitate to take it right to Wozniacki. She is a darn good athlete, moves incredibly well and is very aggressive. Wozniacki cannot get frustrated with Craybas’ ability to track down an extra ball or two, she has to remain patient and play her game. Wozniacki is younger, stronger, and has more tools than Craybas and should be able to dictate play with her powerful groundstrokes. Craybas will certainly give Wozniacki a match, but I see the young Dane pulling through.

Nick’s Pick — Wozniacki in 2 sets

(2) Serena Williams (USA) vs. Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP)

It was definitely a good sign to see Serena win her first round match, because she has been dealing with a knee injury that has really hampered her play. She needed three sets, but Zakopalova is a tough competitor, especially on clay.

Ruano Pascual is playing in her 13th career French Open. She is a former quarterfinalist, but hasn’t been past the second round since 2004. The 35-year old veteran is extremely adept at playing on clay and will definitely be up to the challenge that is Serena Williams.

Match-Up:

Ruano Pascual is 1-0 against Serena with that win coming way back in 1998 at Wimbledon. I don’t think that match has any bearing at all on this one coming up. Ruano Pascual is an excellent clay-courter, having won five titles on the surface in her career. She has also won five French Open doubles titles, so you know she is comfortable a the net and moves well. Serena has to take her time with Ruano Pascual, because the veteran is crafty and will make Serena work. Look for Serena to try and dictate play with her serve and powerful groundstrokes, but don’t be surprised if Ruano Pascual is able to make this an interesting match, especially since it is on the clay.

Nick’s Pick — Serena Williams in 3 sets

(9) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG)

Tsonga is playing in only his second French Open, and for the first time he is out of the opening round. He needed four sets to beat fellow Frenchman Julien Benneteau, and I agree with Mats Wilander who says that Tsonga is a potential Grand Slam winner.

Monaco advanced to the second round of the French Open for the first time since 2007 when he advanced to the fourth round. He is a very good clay-court player, and just recently reached the quarters in Rome.

Match-up:

Tsonga is 1-0 against Monaco with that win coming earlier this year in the first round at the Aussie Open. Monaco knows how to win on clay. He moves well, has excellent groundstrokes, and is extremely comfortable on the surface. Against Tsonga, he is going to need more than that though. Tsonga can do all of those things, and he does them a little better and with more power. The key for Tsonga is going to be staying healthy and keeping his focus. If he can do those two things he will be fine, especially with the crowd behind him.

Nick’s Pick — Tsonga in 4 sets

(4) Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)

Djokovic only needed to play 13 games in his first round match because Nicolas Lapentti was forced to retire with an injury. He should be well-rested and ready to roll in this match. He has had excellent results on clay this year, reaching the finals in Monte Carlo and Rome and winning the title in Belgrade. Every time he has lost on clay this year it has been to Nadal; he cannot let that affect him going forward.

Stakhovsky came through qualifying and won his first match against Argentine Brian Dabul in four sets. He comes into the tournament ranked No. 110 in the world and has reached the quarters of two tournaments this year. This is his first appearance in the main draw of the French Open.

Match-up:

This is the first career meeting between the 22-year old Djokovic and the 23-year old Stakhovsky. This match is certainly on Djokovic’s racket as he is the clear favorite to advance. Skathovsky has a big game and is a big guy (6-foot-4). He is going to have to hit out and go for his shots whenever he has a chance. He cannot sit back and wait for Djokovic to make mistakes, he has to force the issue all the time. Stakhovsky certainly has the potential to make Djokovic work, but I like Djokovic in straight sets.

Nick’s Pick — Djokovic in 3 sets

Stay tuned for updates throughout the French Open as Nick’s Pick will bring you daily analysis and predictions!

Venus Williams (USA) vs. Bethanie Mattek (USA)

Venus comes into the tournament ranked #3 in the world and having already won two titles this year (one on clay). She reached the finals at Roland Garros back in 2002, but has failed to get past the quarterfinals since. The last two years she has lost in the third round. I think she will have more success in 2009!

Mattek is playing in only her third French Open, and has never been past the second round. She comes in ranked #45 in the world, down eight spots from her career high which she achieved back in March. She is 3-4 on clay this year, but still has the talent to push the top players.

Match-Up:

Venus is 1-0 against Mattek, with that win coming at Wimbledon in 2006. Everyone looks forward to seeing Mattek play so they can see what she is wearing! She is flashy on the court, and has a powerful game. That will not be enough to beat Venus though because of Venus’ length, movement, and groundstrokes. The one thing Venus has to watch out for is that sometimes she is a slow starter and she cannot let Mattek dictate play and push her back on her heels. I am going with Venus in straight sets, but I think this will be competitive.

Nick’s Pick – V. Williams in 2 sets

Dinara Safina (RUS) vs. Anne Keothavong (GBR)

Safina is the favorite to win this tournament, and she should be. Right now she is playing better than anyone in the world, and she knows she has what it takes to win her first Grand Slam. I think she will be disappointed with anything less than a run to the finals!

Keothavong is a very solid player who is currently ranked #56 in the world. She just reached the semis in Warsaw on clay and will not be lacking confidence in this match. Although she is 25 years old, this is her first appearance in the main draw of the French Open!

Match-Up:

This will be the first career match between Keothavong and Safina. Keothavong’s preferred surface is hard, but she is still a good clay-courter. She has a big forehand and moves very well and is a smart player. Safina cannot let Keothavong frustrate her and take her off her game. In the long run, Safina’s ability to consistently pound groundstroke after groundstroke will wear Keothavong down. Safina is playing better defensive tennis, has cut down on her unforced errors, and she knows she is the best in the world. I look for Safina to move on.

Nick’s Pick – Safina in 2 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Petra Cetkovska (CZE)

After finishing strong in 2008, Jankovic hasn’t had the year she wanted. She is down to #5 in the world and has a 23-8 record thus far in ’09. She needs to regain her flexibility and speed that made her so dangerous over the last year and a half. Jankovic has reached the semifinals for the last two years so she knows she has plenty of points to defend this year.

Cetkovska is a 24-year old woman from the Czech Republic who comes into the tournament ranked #82 in the world. In her one and only appearance at the French Open last year, she advanced to the fourth round before falling to Ana Ivanovic 6-0, 6-0.

Match-Up:

This is the first career match between Cetkovska and Jankovic. Cetkovska has yet to really break though on the WTA Tour, but she did have success at last year’s French Open. She is solid on clay, but doesn’t have the weapons to take down the Serb. Jankovic is solid all the way around, and if anything falters it will be her serve a little. I don’t see her losing this match, but that doesn’t mean Jankovic needs to take Cetkovska lightly either!

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

Flavia Pennetta (ITA) vs. Alexa Glatch (USA)

Pennetta comes in ranked #14 in the world, down three spots from her career high ranking of #11 which she achieved back in February. She reached the fourth round at Roland Garros last year, which is her best result at the tournament.

Glatch is a good young American who is ranked #117 in the world. She is playing in her first Roland Garros, but that won’t make her nervous whatsoever. Glatch is confident in her abilities and she won two pressure packed matches for the USA in the Fed Cup earlier this year.

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between Glatch and Pennetta and should be a good one. Glatch is solid from both sides, has a big serve, and has a nice slice backhand that will allow her to change the tempo. Playing on clay doesn’t help her though as it will give Pennetta extra time to track down her shots and force her to make errors. Pennetta is extremely comfortable on clay, can change the pace and is very consistent. If this match was on a hard court or grass, Glatch would be right with Pennetta, but on clay you have to give the edge to the Italian.

Nick’s Pick – Pennetta in 2 sets

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs. Ivo Karlovic (CRO)

Hewitt comes into the tournament ranked #50 in the world, but he did win a title on clay in Houston last month. He is a two-time quarterfinalist, but hasn’t been past the fourth round since 2006. He hasn’t played a whole lot on clay this year, but he definitely knows how to win on this surface.

Karlovic comes in ranked #28 in the world and has a record of 11-11 on the year. He played Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid and in each tournament he fell in the second round. He did, however, have some success in Belgrade, reaching the semis. His best result at Roland Garros came last year when he reached the second round before losing in five sets to Jonas Bjorkman.

Match-Up:

Karlovic is 3-0 against Hewitt, but they have never faced on clay. This is a tough match for Karlovic because of how solid Hewitt is from the baseline. He has excellent groundstrokes, moves well, has an excellent return of serve and his serve is improved. For Karlovic to win this match he is going to have to have an unbelievable serving day because the clay is really going to do a number on slowing down his serve. Every time a rally begins, Karlovic is going to slice the backhand which will give Hewitt time to set up and hit his shots. I can see Karlovic winning this match if Hewitt is feeling good physically, but I have to give the edge to Hewitt because of how solid his game is.

Nick’s Pick – Hewitt in 4 sets

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)

For the first time in his career, Murray is seeded third at a Grand Slam and with that comes lots of high expectations. He has never had great success at Roland Garros, but then again this is only his third go-around at the tournament. Murray can challenge for the title, he just needs to get comfortable on the clay very quickly!

Chela is a former quarterfinalist at Roland Garros, but comes into the tournament ranked #205 in the world. He has only played in 17 ATP pro level matches this year, but he is always a threat on clay.

Match up:

Murray is 3-1 against Chela, but the two haven’t played since 2007. Chela knows the clay well and has had success on it in the past. He has the ability to make Murray work hard for every point, but I don’t know if he can beat the Scott. Murray is having his best year on the tour, and is now a legit threat to win every tournament he enters. He can play offensively, defensively, he moves extremely well, he has excellent groundstrokes, and he can play on any surface. He has gotten stronger physically and seems to be ready for the challenge. I can see Chela taking a set off of Murray, but not winning the match. Look for Murray to advance.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 sets

Tommy Haas (GER) vs. Andrei Pavel (ROU)

Haas has been recovering from an injury and has only played in 17 ATP matches this year. He reached the quarters in Houston and then lost in the second round in Madrid to Andy Roddick. Roland Garros hasn’t been kind to Tommy, but I think he has the game to play here and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pull off a couple of upsets.

Pavel is a 35-year old veteran who reached the quarterfinals of the French Open back in 2002. He comes into the tournament ranked #1124 in the world, but was once ranked as high as #13. He has sat out much of 2009 with a back injury, but don’t count him out on clay if he is healthy.

Match up:

Haas is 7-4 against Pavel, and 3-2 on clay. They actually faced in the fourth round of the 2002 French Open with Pavel winning in three sets. That was a long time ago and a lot has changed since that. Neither of these men are spring chickens, but I would say that Tommy has more left in the tank than Pavel at this point. Pavel is an extremely fierce competitor, but Tommy has too much game for him at this point in his career. Haas has an excellent slice, fantastic one-handed backhand, is comfy coming forward and has a big forehand. This will be a fun match to watch, and I give the edge to Haas.

Nick’s Pick – Haas in 4 sets

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Alberto Martin (ESP)

Federer is coming off of a great win over Rafael Nadal in the finals of Madrid and is more determined than ever to win this tournament and complete the career Grand Slam. We all know the history of Federer at the French Open, but what happened in the past is over and there is no reason to dwell on it. Federer has the game to win this title, but what will happen if he faces Nadal in the finals again?

Martin is a former top 40 player who is currently ranked #97 in the world. His best results have come on clay, as he has won three titles on the surface in his career. In fact, he has reached 11 singles and doubles finals in his career and they all have come on clay! This is one guy who I would definitely call a clay-court specialist!

Match up:

Federer is 1-0 against Martin with that win coming at Monte Carlo on clay back in 2006. It will be interesting to see how Federer approaches this match coming off of that win over Nadal. He has said that beating Nadal in Madrid is one thing, but beating Nadal at Roland Garros is a completely different animal. Martin will definitely challenge Federer, but I don’t see Fed losing this match. He has too much firepower and is too determined to lose early on in this tournament!

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 3 sets