Exciting Matchups Ahead in French Open: Alcaraz vs. Shelton and Swiatek vs. Rybakina
Anticipation Builds for Key Matches
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is set to face off against the powerful 13th seed Ben Shelton in the French Open round of 16 on Sunday. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, a four-time titleholder, prepares to challenge former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Alcaraz's Previous Encounters with Shelton
Alcaraz has previously defeated Shelton in both of their encounters, winning in straight sets. However, this year at Roland Garros, he has displayed some vulnerabilities, having dropped sets in his last two matches.
Alcaraz's Recent Performances
In his second-round match against Fabian Marozsan, Alcaraz admitted to struggling with the Hungarian's performance, losing the second set 6-4. After his third-round win over Damir Dzumhur, he expressed, "I honestly didn't enjoy it that much. I suffered quite a lot." Despite these challenges, Alcaraz has a commendable clay-court record this season, with only one loss in the final at Barcelona and titles in Monte Carlo and Rome.
Shelton's Excitement for the Challenge
Shelton is eager for the opportunity to compete against the defending champion. He remarked, "Playing the defending champion in the round of 16 on center court is a unique experience that not many get to have in their lifetime. I plan to enjoy it and see what I can do, as I'm starting to play some of my best tennis. I consider myself dangerous when I'm in that zone."
Musetti vs. Rune: A Clash of Talents
Lorenzo Musetti, who has reached the semifinals in all clay-court Masters events this year, will face Holger Rune, the Barcelona Open champion. Rune, seeded 10th, previously handed Alcaraz his only clay loss this season, defeating him in straight sets in Catalonia. However, Rune has had a mixed performance at Roland Garros, dropping the first set in two of his three matches.
Rune's Insights on Musetti's Match
Musetti also showed signs of vulnerability, having lost his first set of the tournament against Mariano Navone. Rune commented on their upcoming match, stating, "As Musetti mentioned, he can't afford to give me the first set, and I can't afford to give him the first set either. I'm looking forward to what should be a great battle."
Swiatek Prepares for Rybakina Showdown
Iga Swiatek, the three-time defending champion, is set to face Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, who recently defeated Jelena Ostapenko. Notably, Ostapenko has a perfect 6-0 record against Swiatek. Swiatek acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, "Both matches will be tough. Let's see who comes out on top." When asked about her preference between Rybakina and Ostapenko, she humorously replied, "Am I a good liar? It doesn't really matter. I couldn't play poker."
Swiatek's Record Against Rybakina
Swiatek's head-to-head record against Rybakina stands at 4-4, but Rybakina has won both encounters this season, including their last meeting on clay in Stuttgart 2024, where she triumphed in three sets.
Other Women's Matches to Watch
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who has only lost 10 games so far, will face Amanda Anisimova, a former semifinalist. If Sabalenka wins, she could meet Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals, a chance for redemption after her unexpected loss to Mirra Andreeva last year. Zheng, the eighth seed from China, will compete against 18th-ranked Liudmila Samsonova from Russia. Additionally, fourth seed Jasmine Paolini, last year's runner-up and current Italian Open champion, will begin her match on Court Philippe Chatrier against four-time quarterfinalist Elina Svitolina.