Maria Sharapova versus Serena Williams

It is the Round-of-16 match that many were hoping for from the moment the draw came out, and come Monday, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams will do battle yet again with a berth in the quarterfinals hanging in the balance.  There is not much that has not already been said about this marquee rivalry on the WTA Tour.  They each represent two of the biggest ball-strikers in the sport, are ultra-aggressive, and exhibit phenomenal fighting spirit.  The problem for Sharapova is that Williams tends to do everything she does a notch better and enjoys a decisive edge when it comes to the serve and in the movement department, which is why she holds a dominant 19-2 lead in their head-to-head.  It has been fourteen years since the Russian got a win over Williams, and the American has barely dropped a set to Sharapova the last decade. 

Yet for all of the history stacked against her, there is a sense that this could be Sharapova's time.  Even Williams admitted that Sharapova is “probably” the favorite in Monday's match.  For sure Sharapova has a lot more match play under her belt than Williams, who is working her way back after maternity leave, and with her results leading into Roland Garros, Sharapova has every reason to feel confident against anyone, including Williams.  Still, history is hard to overlook, and there is a lot of scar tissue where Sharapova is concerned in this match-up.  Williams often brings out her best against Sharapova, and if she can keep it close, then both might get the sense that it is going to be business as usual.  But if Sharapova can get a lead early, maybe tuck away the first set, then Monday could be her day.  What is certain is that this represents her best look at getting another one on the board against the American, and the pressure is on to take advantage of it. 

Juan Martin del Potro versus John Isner

In one of the most interesting (and tallest) of the Round of 16 matches, Juan Martin del Potro and John Isner will duke it out to advance to the quarterfinals.  With both men nestled in the Top 10 of the rankings, it is no surprise that each has been playing some great tennis of late.  The Argentine is more comfortable on this surface.  His overall movement is better, which is key on clay, his forehand is arguably the biggest weapon on the court, and he possesses more variety, which allows him to make any necessary last-minute adjustments more naturally. 

None of that is to say that Isner is ill-equipped to dictate his share of the rallies, however.  His serve remains a huge weapon that is apt to garner him a good number of free points, and with the way he has unabashedly been ripping the ball from both wings, he can make things uncomfortable for the fifth seed.  Furthermore, he only trails in this rivalry 4-6, and with many tight sets included in their previous encounters, he knows a victory is well within reach.  That said, del Potro's game allows him to blunt the strengths of the American more so than Isner can his, which is why although Isner assuredly has more than a fighting chance at garnering the upset, del Potro looks good to advance to the elite eight.

Caroline Garcia versus Angelique Kerber

The folks in France would dearly love to see a home favorite win the title, so naturally, all eyes will be on Caroline Garcia as she takes on Angelique Kerber with the aim of keeping her Roland Garros hopes alive.  There is no question that the seventh seed has the game to do it.  She puts a lot of juice on her shots, and she especially loves to let the forehand fly.  She gets decent pop and direction on her serve, and as a top doubles player, she is exceptionally comfortable transitioning to net and knowing how to finish the job once she is there.  She is also the more offensive-minded of the duo and more likely than not, will be the player dictating proceedings. 

Of course, Kerber at her best can also send the ball for a ride, and it is going to be imperative that she step in and do so when the opportunity arises instead of relying solely on her impeccable defense.  That defense is what does make her a tough match-up for Garcia, however, and likely why she leads their head-to-head 4-2.  Garcia plays a higher-risk style, and if she is struggling with her feel, Kerber is one of the worst opponents she could face.  The drubbing Kerber gave Garcia earlier this year at Indian Wells where the German dropped just two games is proof of that.  If Kerber can once again strike that perfect blend of offense and defense, then an upset is in the cards.  She leads this rivalry for a reason, and as a former Number 1 and a major champion, she should enjoy the mental edge as well.  So, while Garcia has the tools to live up to her seeding and move through to the last eight, this is a great opportunity for Kerber to instead continue to build on her resurgence of 2018.