The semifinal lineups at the 2014 French Open will take shape after the quarterfinals conclude on Wednesday. A former women’s champion squares off with a meteoric top-five star, while a crafty dirt devil seeks her third straight Roland Garros semifinal.

Simona Halep vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova

Opportunity.  That is what is waiting to be seized by Simona Halep or Svetlana Kuznetsova in their quarterfinal clash.  For Halep, Wednesday’s match is an opportunity to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal.  For Kuznetsova, it is a chance at redemption and a return to her former Grand Slam glory.  Both deserve a spot in the final four.  Unfortunately, only one can advance.

The head-to-head between these two great competitors sheds little light on the potential outcome.  They have met on four occasions, splitting those meetings at two each and one apiece on clay.  Three of the four encounters have been tight affairs, including their most recent match, which was won by Kuznetsova in Stuttgart.  The lone lopsided contest, however, went to Halep in Rome last year when the Romanian dropped just two games.  Presumably that match was an example of how the steadiness of Halep can frustrate a player prone to periods of erratic play, like Kuznetsova.

Halep will be hoping for a similar scenario in Wednesday’s quarterfinal, and given their respective playing styles, that is a possibility.  Halep is used to running down balls and is excellent in extended rallies.  She is also more than capable of changing the direction of the ball to open up the court and carve out her own winners.  Furthermore, she is apt to be more selective than her opponent regarding the proper time to pull the trigger, so her steady brand of tennis could get the job done. 

Unfortunately for Halep, sure and steady may not see her across the finish line if Kuznetsova is having a good day at the office.  Kuznetsova holds the edge as far as controlling the tempo of the match.  She hits bigger than the Romanian in all departments. Whether she hits clean winners, commits unforced errors, or forces Halep into errors, it will be Kuznetsova making things happen out there.

The quality of each woman’s play will have a lot to do with nerves.  Halep has made admirable progress over the last 13 months, but the prospect of reaching her first major semifinal could wreak havoc on her game.  Kuznetsova, by contrast, has not only been to the semifinals of a major but has won two titles.  If the match is close, it could be Kuznetsova’s past experience that proves the difference-maker in the big moments.

For these reasons, this one is too close to call.  Odds might slightly favor Halep as the steadier player with more confidence, but you can never count out a Grand Slam champion like Kuznetsova.  She has always been streaky, but when she is on, she is difficult for anyone to beat.  Just like in 2009, she may be poised to put it all together at Roland Garros.

Sara Errani vs. Andrea Petkovic

There are many things that can be specifically measured in sports, but one thing that cannot be measured is the heart and determination of an athlete.  Andrea Petkovic and Sara Errani have those attributes to the maximum.  The former has had to overcome a litany of injuries, while the other has managed to make her mark in an era of power tennis despite her smaller stature.  On Wednesday, their fighting spirits will be on full display as they battle for a semifinal berth.

At first glance, it would appear that there is little to separate these feisty foes.  They have split their only two meetings, both of which occurred on the clay of Madrid.  Petkovic got the better of Errani in 2010, but the Italian avenged that loss this season.  Additionally, their matches have included a number of tight sets, which would suggest that this third meeting could come down to a handful of crucial points. 

Despite their close history, an argument could be made that Errani is a fairly heavy favorite in this match.  Currently ranked No. 11, she is seeded much higher than the German.  She has also had a strong clay season, posting runs to the quarterfinals of Charleston, semifinals of Stuttgart, and finals of Rome.  She has been very consistent at Roland Garros in the last two years, including a finalist appearance in 2012.  She ought to be feeling confident about her chances of going at least another round further and proving a tough obstacle for Petkovic.

But Petkovic is used to overcoming obstacles.  In 2011, the German was ranked inside the top 10.  After logging quarterfinal results at three of the four majors that year, she looked well on her way to becoming a mainstay at the apex of the women’s game.  But a series of injuries has led to a number of setbacks, leaving Petkovic to scrape and claw her way back up the rankings.  The German has made great strides in doing that this season.  She won the title in Charleston and must be pleased with her run in Paris, which marks her first trip to the quarterfinals of a major since 2011.

If Petkovic hopes to extend her stay in the French capital, however, she will have her work cut out for her.  Like Petkovic, Errani is most at home on the dirt and favors her forehand, so this match will likely come down to who can most effectively and consistently utilize that forehand.  If it comes to that, Errani is the clear favorite.  She has enjoyed more overall success of late, especially on the clay.  She has also looked more convincing in her wins this tournament than the German, who was lucky to escape her last match against the unheralded Kiki Bertens.

Petkovic faces an uphill battle, then, but she has proven herself up to the challenge on multiple occasions throughout the course of her career.  Still, the odds favor Errani, so look for the Italian to once against find herself in the semifinals of Roland Garros.