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Paris – Round of 16 action kicks off on Day 8 of Roland-Garros – here’s what we’ll be watching as the first quarterfinal slots are claimed on the terre battue.
See the Complete Day 8 OOP Here
Three Amigos
For the first time in 30 years, three American men have reached the round of 16 in Paris. All three will be in action on Sunday as Ben Shelton takes on defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, Frances Tiafoe faces Daniel Altmaier and Tommy Paul battles Alexei Popyrin.
Shelton will play third up on Chatrier.
Tiafoe will be fourth on Lenglen, while Paul and Popyrin will kick things off on Lenglen.
It’s a huge moment for the American men, who have struggled to make inroads on the Parisian clay for decades. It could be seen as a sign that the Americans are closing the gap on the rest of the world as they continue to progress on the world stage
If one of the three is victorious, it will mark the first time that an American man has reached a Roland-Garros semifinal since 2003.
Iga vs. Rybakina, Episode 9
Iga Swiatek’s Roland-Garros draw gets a lot hairier starting now. She was able to avoid facing her own personal kryptonite Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 16, as the Latvian was defeated, but her looming showdown with Elena Rybakina could be very complicated.
Swiatek and Rybakina are second up on Chatrier.
Asked who she would prefer to play on Thursday, while Rybakina was still in the midst of her third-round match with Jelena Ostapenko, Swaitek said: "Am I a good liar? Let's say it doesn't matter, really. Oh, my God. I couldn't play poker."
Clearly she's relieved to not have to face Ostapenko, but Rybakina has been tough on her as well.
Swiatek has taken the pair’s last two meetings but the pair’s head-to-head stands at 4-4, and Rybakina has taken their only two clay-court meetings. Swiatek, who has won 24 straight at Roland-Garros, is gaining confidence in every round, but Rybakina has shown resurgent form in Paris, getting through her last two rounds with only ten games dropped.
Popcorn and More
All eyes will be on a showdown between ever dangerous Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka. It has been a good matchup for the American, who has won 5 of 7 against the World No.1. Anisimova, a former semifinalist at Roland-Garros, says that we should expect plenty of colossal groundstrokes.
The pair will play third on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
“I mean, we're both some pretty big hitters, so I'm sure we're going to be going at it back and forth a bit,” she told reporters after her third-round win over Clara Tauson. “Obviously one of the best right now. She's No. 1. I feel like it's always a good matchup. I really enjoy the fight and the challenge that she brings on. I'm just looking forward to it. Hopefully I can bring my A game.”
We’ll also be keeping close tabs on Jasmine Paolini’s looming showdown with Elina Svitolina, who has been one of the hottest players on clay this year.
On the men’s side the third career meeting between Holger Rune and Lorenzo Musetti should be a doozy. Two players who we expected to make deep runs are angling to do just that in Paris.