[13] Madison Keys (USA) vs. [31] Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU)
Keys is trying to recover the form that took her to the 2017 US Open final; yet, it has not been easy as her 2018 season has been interrupted by niggling injuries, wrist and thigh. Today she faced a crafty clay court player; however, Keys quickly neutralized Buzarnescu’s game with her powerful forehand. It took the Romanian a bit to get accustomed to the power from Keys and she fought back in the second set from a 1-5 deficit; however, Keys would not be deterred and she eventually powered her way into her first Roland Garros quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-4 defeat of her opponent.
[10] Sloane Stephens (USA) vs. [25] Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Stephens had a marathon match yesterday against a very tough opponent, Camila Giorgi; thus, the question in the minds of many was how she would fare against the hottest player in the tournament. Kontaveit came out strong in the first two games and then wilted quickly under the oppressive defense and the ferocious offense of Stephens. There was no coming back in this one for the Estonian; her exhausting battle against Petra Kvitova yesterday had severely depleted her mental and physical reserves. Stephens won 6-2, 6-0 to advance to her first Roland Garros quarterfinals.
While the American women were hanging tough in singles, they did not do well in doubles.
Serena and Venus Williams (USA) vs. [3] Andreja Klepac and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (SLO/ESP)
It was a tough ask for the Americans against a well-established doubles team that has had consistent match practice on the doubles court. It was not to be for the sisters today, for as determined as they were, their opponents were doubly determined and they fought off the stiff resistance from the sisters to ultimately gain the 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-0 victory.
SPECIAL MENTION: our spotlight player, [2] Alexander Zverev (GER), is doing it the hard way; however, he is into his first major quarterfinal. It required a third consecutive five-setter from the young German to do so. Unfortunately, it does not get any easier for him as next up is [7] Dominic Thiem (AUT), who leads their head-to-head 4:2.
SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe: Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens; Matthew Stockman/Getty Images Europe: Serena and Venus Williams)
