Two women with plenty of past success at Roland Garros will clash for a berth in the second week of the French Open on Friday.

Dominika Cibulkova vs. Samantha Stosur

This is a match of contrasting styles that could produce plenty of exciting entertainment.

At 25, Cibulkova is enjoying one of the best seasons of her career.  She has climbed to No. 10 in the rankings thanks to some stellar results in 2014.  Earlier this year, she reached her first major singles final at the Australian Open, and she has backed up that milestone nicely with a quarterfinal appearance at Indian Wells and a semifinal showing in Miami.  Given that clay is one of her favorite surfaces, it is ironic that the Slovak’s poorest stretch of play thus far has come during her warm up for Roland Garros.  Cibulkova lost both of her openers in Madrid and Rome, which leaves her present level of confidence suspect.

Like Cibulkova, Stosur also comes into Roland Garros likely lacking in confidence. Since kicking off 2014 with a semifinal run in Hobart, the veteran Aussie has failed to advance beyond the round of 16 at any other event.  To make matters worse, Stosur injured her leg in the gym just days before Roland Garros got underway and had to play with stitches.  But, regardless of all of the setbacks, Stosur should not be counted out against Cibulkova.

Despite the differences in how their 2014 seasons have progressed, Stosur has plenty of reasons to feel confident about her chances of upsetting her higher-ranked opponent.  She is a flawless 4-0 against Cibulkova, and all of those victories were in straight sets.  Additionally, one of the four victories came at this venue in 2012, and the most recent triumph, which occurred at Madrid, included a 6-0 set.  Stosur also possesses a bigger and more versatile game than the Slovak.  She can look to control points with her forehand and use her skills in the forecourt, and she owns one of the best serves in the game.  By comparison, Cibulkova will need to rely more on her defensive skills.  She must pounce on any offensive opportunities that may arise, utilizing her forehands and swinging volleys to keep Stosur off balance.

When all is said and done, however, this match is less likely to be about tactics and execution than about what is going on between the ears.  It is the amount of confidence Cibulkova has accrued this year against the amount of belief Stosur has earned based on her past results against Cibulkova.  But, if both players come fully engaged, then fans could be in for a treat regardless of who emerges victorious.

Carla Suarez Navarro vs. Taylor Townsend

As the first weekend of Roland Garros draws near, there are plenty of interesting matches on tap.  With so much on offer, it is easy for some to get lost in the shuffle.  One contest likely to get glossed over is the match featuring Carla Suarez Navarro and Taylor Townsend, but this match should not be easily dismissed.  Either one of these two women could turn into one of the surprises of the tournament.

Taylor Townsend, who is making her Grand Slam singles debut, may already consider her trip to the third round a pleasant surprise.  After relinquishing a massive lead against top Frenchwoman Alizé Cornet a round ago, few would have picked Townsend to rebound in the final set and advance.  Then again, maybe her progress in Paris is not such a shock.  The young American won ITF clay events in Charlottesville and Indian Harbor Beach before coming to the French capital.  She also has a pool of talent that many pundits believe will see her significantly rise above her current ranking of No. 205.

The talent of Townsend’s opponent, Carla Suarez Navarro, is already well known.  The Spaniard has long been regarded as owning one of the prettiest one-handed backhands in the sport.  Also, as her present ranking of No. 15 would suggest, Suarez Navarro is a very solid player. She has logged a respectable 2014 campaign that has included several quarterfinal appearances.  She just won her first WTA singles title in Oeiras and has previously been to the second week of Roland Garros, so she should be brimming with confidence.

Confident or not, Suarez Navarro will need to be on her toes to avoid the upset by Townsend.  The young American is an aggressive all-court player, competent from both the baseline and at the net.  The Spaniard must draw on her superior clay-court movement, as well as her one-handed backhand to find angles, open up the court, and get Townsend on the move.  It is essential that Suarez Navarro keep Townsend out of position. As big as the American is capable of hitting, allowing her to set up for her powerful groundstrokes would make for a very long day for Suarez Navarro.

Both women have the necessary skill set to make this match a dramatic affair, but how effective each is with her respective skill set will hinge on how they mentally cope with the gravity of the situation.  Townsend could swing freely and fearlessly or allow her inexperience at this level to creep into her game.  Similarly, Suarez Navarro could crumble under the pressure of being the favorite or play a brand of tennis befitting of her ranking.  Either way, both women have a realistic look at advancing not just to the round of 16 but perhaps even continuing that journey into the last eight.