French Open women’s quarter-finals: Muguruza and Stosur set for spots in semis
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | May 31, 2016
2016 French Open
- Women’s Singles Quarter-finals
- Wednesday, June 1st
- Matches scheduled: From 10:00 BST
- Roland Garros, Paris
- Live on ITV4 and Eurosport
Shelby Rogers v Garbine Muguruza
Yet more rain delays in Paris are playing hell with the 2016 French Open schedule, but two of the quarter-final clashes have been confirmed. The first of these sees a maiden encounter between fourth seed Garbine Muguruza and Shelby Rodgers.
American Rodgers is punching well above weight and WTA world ranking, which was outside the top 100 before the clay court Grand Slam began. In Venezuelan-born Spaniard Muguruza, however, she may have met her match.
While impressive when coming through a three-setter with former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova (winning the opener and decider both 6-0), Rodgers is a 4/1 outsider to eliminate another top seed here.
Muguruza, so magnificent on clay and playing her third consecutive Roland Garros quarter-final, starts as long odds-on 1/6 favourite for this fixture. A straight sets result in favour of the Spanish starlet is better value at 1/2, because she has dropped just one set at the French Open so far.
Sam Stosur v Tsvetana Pironkova
Bulgarian player Tsvetana Pironkova has knocked three seeds into the dust in Paris to date, but now faces fellow giant-killer and 2011 US Open champ Sam Stosur.
Australia’s 21st seed Stosur sent Lucie Safarova and consistent WTA Tour performer Simona Halep home in successive third and fourth round victories. Couple those results with a 4-1 head-to-head record against Pironkova, and Stosur starts a worthy odds-on 4/9 match favourite.
In eliminating Sara Errani, Sloane Stephens and second seed Agnieszka Radwanska, however, Pironnkova has been no less impressive, so is only a 7/4 outsider and on her best-ever Roland Garros run.
What counts against her, however, is history. All four of Stosur’s wins have come in straight sets, and there is thus some value in backing this again at 6/5. A tiebreak happening in this match at 3/1 is an attractive alternative punt, as Stosur’s last two French Open matches have included sets going the distance.
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Coral’s top tip: Pironkova is playing well, but so is Stosur and that is why odds of 3/1 are terrific for there to be a tiebreak in their battle.
