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Three to See on Day 7 in Paris

Jun 2nd 2017

Andy Murray versus Juan Martin del Potro

Andy Murray taking on Juan Martin del Potro is a match worthy of a final.  Tragically, they are colliding in just the third round.  Their loss is the fans' gain, however, as this is the most-anticipated of the third-round encounters.  They have put on some spectacular displays over the course of their nine prior meetings, including their last two matches.  It was Murray who defeated the Argentine in a competitive affair to secure a gold medal at the Rio Olympics before del Potro returned the favor to defeat the Scot in a five-set thriller in Davis Cup play.  If the pattern holds, Saturday's match could be something special.  It all boils down to who can get on top of the majority of the rallies. 

Juan Martin Del Potro

Murray should be looking to get the big man on the run and engage in a battle of the backhands, the wing that del Potro is unable to hit over on with any regularity thanks to multiple wrist surgeries.  For del Potro, his odds of achieving victory rest primarily on how often he can utilize his monster forehand.  It is one of the most powerful shots in men's tennis, and he can use that stroke to hit anyone off the court, including Murray.  The other X-factor in this match is which of the two has the guts to go for it when the chips are down, and it is arguably del Potro who is in the better position to do so.  The Argentine has been battling injuries that have prevented him from building much momentum in 2017, but Murray's struggles have been far worse.  He is the one under greater pressure to right the ship and defend his finalist appearance from a year ago, and if his play through the first two rounds is any indication, he is still searching for his best.  Short of Murray raising his level another notch or two, look for del Potro to pull off the upset.

Agnieszka Radwanska versus Alizé Cornet

Agnieszka Radwanska and Alizé Cornet are two accomplished and experienced players, who have come into Roland Garros flying well under the radar.  Each woman started off her season brightly enough by reaching the final of their opening events of 2017, but injuries and subsequently poor form have seen them taper off in the months that have followed.  Now, each has a look at turning her season around by reaching the second week here in Paris.  Odds certainly favor the Pole.  She is back up at world no.10 in the rankings and has a commanding 7-1 lead in her rivalry with the Frenchwoman. 

Agnieszka Radwanska

But Cornet loves a big stage, will have the home crowd firmly in her corner and knows that Roland Garros has traditionally been the weakest of the four slams for the former world no.2.  Presumably, that is because Radwanska is unable to hit through the clay, thereby offsetting her phenomenal retrieving ability.  That may not matter in this match, however.  Cornet does not have a big enough weapon to really hurt the Pole.  If anything, she is often guilty of standing even further behind the baseline, which should allow Radwanska to dictate proceedings and get a fair amount of the job done up in the forecourt.  That has been the successful ploy for her in the past, and it is logical to assume that same strategy will see her continue her dominance against the Frenchwoman.

Gael Monfils versus Richard Gasquet

When a tournament gets underway, it can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing solely on the favorites.  In doing so, something special can be missed.  A primary example is the upcoming match between Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet.  No one is looking for either man to be the first native son since Yannick Noah to hoist the trophy here, but their third-round clash could still be something to behold.  Monfils has always been known as a great showman, using his quick foot speed and unabashedly going for the low-percentage plays to pull off what looks like the impossible.  It has made him a nightmare to coach but a favorite with fans around the globe.

Gael Monfils

Though not as flashy, his countryman Richard Gasquet is also known as a man with flare.  He can find abundant angles with a quick flick of the wrist, and his sweeping, one-handed backhand was once one of the smoothest and most talked about shots in tennis.  Put these two together, and there could be some real artistry on the court.  As to which one will not only put on a show but have the privilege of walking away the victor is anyone's guess.  Conventional wisdom favors Monfils.  He holds the edge in their head-to-head 7-6 and tends to be the slightly more aggressive of the pair.  He is also the higher seed, and he gets more pop off the ground.  That said, Gasquet did win their last encounter earlier this year in Marseille.  And if Monfils falls back into the nasty of habit of relying on his wheels instead of taking it to his opponent, it could be Gasquet who takes advantage of the situation, pulling Monfils around the court and forcing his countryman into errors.  He plays the higher percentages, so if Monfils is more interested in putting on a show rather than winning, Gasquet could very well be the victor.  Either way, this has the potential to be a true popcorn match.