Simona Halep versus Angelique Kerber

Play in the top half of the draw has transpired to produce two blockbuster quarterfinals, one of which pits top seed Simona Halep against Angelique Kerber.  Though there is no way to predict with absolute certainty what will happen on Wednesday, fans had better be prepared to settle in for the long haul, because this could turn into an all-out war of attrition.  Halep and Kerber are known for their superb defensive skills and respective abilities to act as a human backboard.  With neither possessing a huge serve or sufficient firepower to regularly hit through the other, there are apt to be numerous long rallies.  As suggested by their tight tussle in Melbourne that ended in favor of Halep at 9-7 in the third, there is little to choose between the two. 

With her lefty serve and lefty-hook forehand, the German often does a better job of finding the angles to open up the court and create space, which she is able to hit into thanks to her ability to efficiently redirect the ball from either wing.  Furthermore, provided Kerber commits to being more offensive than defensive, she can get more pop off of the ground.  Typically, however, it is the Romanian who has been more willing to go after the ball, which is why she holds the 5-4 edge in this rivalry.  She has also looked better throughout the clay-court swing coming into Roland Garros and this is her best major in contrast to Kerber, for whom Roland Garros is her worst.  Then again, it is the twelfth seed who has two majors under her belt.  Suffice it to say, this definitely feels like a coin toss.  Just based on form coming in and past performances at this particular venue, Halep is the slight favorite, but neither outcome should come as a shock to anyone.

Marin Cilic versus Juan Martin del Potro

From the outset, Roland Garros has all but been touted as Rafael Nadal's tournament to win or lose, but there are still a handful of men left who are harboring title hopes of their own.  Among those remaining are Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro, and by the time the dust settles on Wednesday, one of them will have moved a step closer to that coveted prize.  At first glance, they look relatively evenly matched.  Both are big ball-strikers, and with their height often make plenty of headway with their serves.  Cilic can match the variety of the Argentine from the backhand wing and can also produce more juice on that shot, so it would definitely favor him to go toe-to-toe with del Potro from that side. 

The fifth seed's forehand is bigger than Cilic's though, and it is also more reliable than the Croat's, which can break down under pressure.  Naturally, del Potro is going to want to engage in more forehand battles.  The outcome of this match will not solely be decided on their strengths, however.  The mental component will also play a crucial part, and it is here where del Potro holds the advantage.  Yes, both are former US Open Champions, and for sure Cilic has the confidence that comes with having made the Wimbledon final last year and the Australian Open final this past January.  But it is the Argentine who enjoys a dominant 10-2 lead in this rivalry and has won their last seven meetings.  Additionally, he is more comfortable on this surface and has looked better arriving at this point.  Cilic has a decent look at making the semifinals, but the odds favor del Potro as the candidate more likely to do so.

Garbiñe Muguruza versus Maria Sharapova

Mary Carillo calls it “Big Babe Tennis,” and that is what will be on offer when Garbiñe Muguruza squares off against Maria Sharapova for the right to move through to the semifinals.  Maria Sharapova has been known for her exceptional firepower since she won Wimbledon as a teenager, and she has learned to add a few more tricks to her arsenal in recent years.  She has five majors to her name, two of which came right here in Paris, and she has a reputation for being one of the mentally toughest competitors in the sport.  Having won all three of her previous encounters against the Spaniard – including once here at Roland Garros – there are going to be plenty who like Sharapova as the one to move through.  But savvy fans and pundits know that it could just as easily be Muguruza who walks away with the victory.  Yes, she is 0-3 against the Russian, but the two have not met in nearly four years. 

Muguruza is a completely different player from when they last met.  She now has two majors to her credit and is a former Number 1.  And yes, though she can be mentally shaky at times, she has also proven she can steel her nerves.  She had to overcome Serena Williams in the final to win here and Venus Williams in the final of Wimbledon to win that title, and if she can slug it out to garner the victory in those instances, there is no reason why she cannot do so against Sharapova here.  She can match Sharapova stroke for stroke from the ground, and she owns the better serve with greater variety in her game, especially in the forecourt.  It is hard to dismiss Sharapova with what she has accomplished and her fighting spirit, but if Muguruza can rise to the occasion and temper her nerves, she should be the one favored to advance.