Paris’s favourite takes on 2018 finalist while Serena’s conqueror meets in-form Barty.
Dominic Thiem v Gael Monfils
Mr Crowd-Pleaser himself, Monfils has delighted his hometown spectators more than ever so far. Not only has he reached the last 16 for the eighth time at Roland-Garros, but he has achieved it without dropping a set for the first time ever. By contrast Dominic Thiem has surrendered the second set in all three of his matches here to date (“stupid”, he said of its latest stumble, against Pablo Cuevas).
However, last year’s runner-up may be feeling this joust offers him the perfect platform to snap that unwanted habit, because if La Monf is to reach his first quarter-final on the Paris clay in five years, he must reverse his 0-4 career record against the Austrian. Thiem’s new coach Nicolas Massu told rolandgarros.com they are “here to win the tournament”. This will be a good test.
Ashleigh Barty v Sofia Kenin
By contrast with the top half of the men’s draw, the corresponding section among the women has been blown wide open. A key contributor to that is Kenin, who stunned Serena Williams – and practically everyone else on Planet Tennis – with her third round dismissal of the 23-time Grand Slam champion. Next she takes on fast-rising Ashleigh Barty, on whom the 20-year-old American has made little impression in their two prior career meetings.
Barty, seeded No.8 here, is gunning for a maiden Roland-Garros quarter-final and has surrendered just 16 games in her campaign to date. Moreover, she has amassed 26 victories in her 31 matches so far this year, piercing the top 10 for the first time.
Alexander Zverev v Fabio Fognini
Having turned 32 just nine days ago, Fognini is giving away a decade to his opponent, and currently has a losing 1-2 career record to Zverev. But Roland-Garros is the only Grand Slam where either has ever reached the last eight – last year in Zverev’s case and as long ago as 2011 for Fognini.
The Italian dismissed the German in their most recent encounter, in the round of 16 at Monte-Carlo just a month ago – a tournament the Italian went on to win. For his part Zverev arrived here after hoisting the Geneva trophy, but to date has laboured in Paris as much as ever, twice going to five sets after winning the opening two.
