French Open preview - Ana Ivanovic Vs Patty Schynder
June 3rd 2008 09:06
Serbian queen Ana Ivanovic looks set to stay on course for a French Open crown
BACKGROUND
Roland Garros is Patty Schnyder’s favourite Grand Slam tournament, and the one she feels she has most chance of winning. A fan of the red clay, this is the second time she has reached the quarter finals here in Paris, the last time being ten years ago. Finalist in Paris last year, and again in Melbourne in January, Ana Ivanovic is rapidly gaining on that elusive Grand Slam title. The French Open is a special tournament for her as it is where she played her first major quarter final match (in 2005) and then her first major final.
CURRENT FORM
Coming to Paris with quarter finals in Rome and Charleston under her belt, No 10 seed Schnyder is progressing slowly but surely. She dropped a set against countrywoman Timea Bacsinszky in the second round (6-4 4-6 6-1), and then against Emilie Loit in the third round (7-6 5-7 6-2), but after beating Katarina Srebotnik in straight sets (6-2 6-4) in the fourth, she is ready for action. Number two seed Ivanovic is holding her own at Roland Garros. Despite a few teething problems (6-2 7-5 against Sofia Arvidsson in the first round), the Serb is now going from strength to strength, as we saw in her 6-0 6-0 walkover against Petra Cetkovska in the fourth round.
STRENGTH
A left-hander with great ball contact, Schnyder plays extremely effectively on clay. Her topspin crosscourt forehand tears through many right-handed backhands. The Swiss talent also moves very well on the red clay.
Serve, forehand, backhand, Ivanovic executes these three shots perfectly, mixing and matching straight shots, curving shots and uppercuts with alarming regularity. Standing tall at 1.85m, Belgrade’s shining star radiates power.
TACTICS
Tactically, Schnyder has the tools to counter Ivanovic’s punch. Physically the Swiss woman can go the distance, but whether she can keep her focus mentally is another matter. Against top players or in big matches she tends to let her nerves get to her, as we saw in last year’s fourth round defeat against Sharapova in Paris, where she bowed out despite having had two match points.
Ivanovic is the favourite in this quarter-final clash. If she can unleash her power without making too many mistakes, the number two seed should dictate the game and make Schnyder suffer.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Schnyder leads 4-3 in her head-to-head against Ivanovic, but the Swiss woman may not hold up psychologically. Schnyder notched up all her wins over Ivanovic in 2005, when the young Serb was just starting out on the circuit. Since then the winds have changed.The statistics are in Ivanovic’s favour. Their last three matches were won by the Serb, two of them being fought out on clay.
PREDICTION
This is a dangerous game for Ivanovic who is heavily favoured to win against the ageing Swiss. Schynider's experience at this level will serve her well. Ivanovic has been known to get unsettled in pressure cooker situations, none more evident than in the the semi-final of the Australian Open earlier this year. Even though she won, Ivanovic looked far from comfortable and lost the first set 6-0. In saying this, it is hard seeing history repeating here. In terms of skill, Ivanovic just posesses too much class and should make the Semi's.
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