Day 8: Things to look out for

It’s pretty much the half way mark of Roland-Garros 2020 and now the match ups, whats at stake, the calibre of the contests are ramping up.

Here’s what to look out for on Sunday in Paris.

Will the French fans fly with Caro?

When you glance at the draw, third seed Elina Svitolina might be the slight favourite for this fourth-round clash.

The world No.5 lifted her 15th career title last week in Strasbourg and has portrayed a player with real steel in Paris thus far.

However, Caroline Garcia rose to the occasion on Friday, soaking up the support from the ardent home crowd to prevail in a pulsating battle against No.16 seed Elise Mertens.

> SUNDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY

It might have taken six match points, but the trademark ‘Fly With Caro’ celebration had an extra spring in its step – this means the world to the 2017 quarter-finalist. 

“I think I played some good tennis so far in this French Open. It's not always great scenario, but I fight until the end, and step by step. Now I'm in the second week, and I had some good three matches,” mused the world No.45.

“I'm curious to see how it goes against Elina Svitolina, who is a very solid player and in full confidence now. I don't know if I'm as good or better or whatever from 2017, but I'm just the Caroline Garcia of now, 2020."

With such a present perspective, Garcia will look to utilise a 3-1 head-to-head when facing Svitolina. The Frenchwoman has claimed their last three encounters, all in deciding sets.

The most recent was on clay in Stuttgart back in 2018, but it definitely proves this match is going to be close. Make sure you tune in! 

Underdogs primed for another upset? 

The bottom half of the men’s draw has culminated in matches truly built for the underdogs on Roland-Garros debut.

Sebastian Korda, the son of 1992 finalist Petr, has sauntered through qualifying all the way to meeting his idol Rafael Nadal. The adulation goes so far that the 20-year-old named his cat “Rafa”.

It will be fascinating to see if the fearless American can disband his respect and really attack the 12-time champion’s game. Good luck Seb…

Jannik Sinner has also been quietly going about his business. The efficient and tranquil Italian will have to bring his very best to wear down the five-set prowess of US Open finalist Alexander Zverev.

Who picked Hugo Gaston to stun 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka in five sets? Very few, that’s for sure. Another Next Gen prodigy, the left-handed Frenchman hadn’t won a tour-level match until this week; now that’s an introduction to the prime time.

Gaston, currently ranked No.239, now has the task of toppling US Open winner and 2018/2019 Roland-Garros finalist Dominic Thiem. The Austrian has transitioned pretty smoothly from New York to the clay, but Gaston will be swinging freely. Could we see another seismic shock?

Swiatek ready to step up?

Top seed Simona Halep is currently working through the gears to devastating effect.

The 2018 champion dismissed Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-1 on Friday, which is a very similar scoreline to another demolition in Paris last summer.

Halep dismantled Polish teenager Iga Swiatek 6-1, 6-0 at this very stage. The match still lingers for the amiable world No.54, but the 19-year-old is out to erase that memory this time out.

“The biggest reason that this match lasted, like, 40 minutes was that I was super stressed. I wasn't experienced. Right now, I feel more experienced. I know that it's going to be different,” stated Swiatek.

“Tennis-wise I wasn't able to play all the things that we were talking with my team, like about tactics. I wasn't able to do that. I think this year is going to be different because I'm more experienced.

“I know for sure that my game is better, so hopefully this match is going to be longer than 40 minutes.”

Swiatek is in a different place right now and has stormed into the second week without the loss of a set, and dropping just 13 games in total along the way.