French Open Day 9 - Men
(3)Rafael Nadal ESP vs (13)Kei Nishikori JPN
This is an interesting match between a current star and a young up and comer. Nishikori has produced great, yet inconsistent tennis throughout the last couple years. However, Nadal will be a whole other level on clay than Nishikori's previous three matches. But also keep in mind that Nadal has looked far from his best in his first three matches. But considering Nadal has lost just ONCE at Roland Garros, his clay court prowess should be too much for the rising Japanese star.
Prediction: Nadal in 4 sets
(9)Stanislas Wawrinka vs (7)Richard Gasquet
Gasquet will be looking to reach just his second ever Grand Slam quarterfinal, and first in front of his home crowd at Roland Garros. Wawrinka, on the other hand, will be similarly be looking to reach just his third Grand Slam quarterfinal and first at Roland Garros. Not much seperates these two players with one-handed backhands. However, Wawrinka does have more of a clay court pedigree than Gasquet. But with Gasquet's home crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen cheering for a second Frenchmen into the quarterfinals, Gasquet will have the edge there. Wawrinka has been known to wilt under pressure, but fought tooth and nail with Novak Djokovic earlier this year at the Australian Open. This is a tantalizing matchup, but I think the French crowd will pull Gasquet through.
Prediction: Gasquet in 5 dramatic sets
Elsewhere, (1)Novak Djokovic SRB faces (16)Phillip Kohlschreiber GER and (12)Tommy Haas GER looks to continue his run against (29)Mikhail Youzhny RUS.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3 tricky sets
Prediction: Haas in 4 tough sets
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