Three to See, Roland Garros Day 6: Can Sebastian Korda top Carlos Alcaraz on clay—again?
How many of these three Americans will still be standing by the end of Friday in Paris?
WATCH: Highlights from Gauff's second-round win
Amanda Anisimova vs. Karolina Muchova
First up in Lenglen we’ll see a clash between two very different methods of playing tennis. Anisimova’s is to hit the ball flat and hard, take control of points as quickly as possible, and try to avoid having to play defense at all costs. Muchova’s style is to use as wide a variety of shots and looks as possible; she changes speeds and spins, likes to stealthily make her way forward, and doesn’t let her opponents get into an easy rhythm. The American and the Czech have never played, but each has been to a Grand Slam semi, and each has a very good win this week—Anisimova over Naomi Osaka, Muchova over Maria Sakkari. It should be interesting to see how their games match up and mesh with each other. Winner: Muchova
UPDATE: Anisimova wins, 6-7 (7), 6-2, 3-0 (ret.)
Coco Gauff vs. Kaia Kanepi
You can throw out age, ranking, and recent form whenever Kanepi gets to a major. Yes, she’s 36, and ranked just 46th, but at the Slams she’s the quintessential “no one wants to face her” opponent. Her athleticism and hitting power never seem to decline, and there are few WTA players who can match them. Is Gauff, who is half Kanepi’s age, one of them? She won their only meeting, in two tiebreakers, last year on clay in Parma. The American doesn’t have Kanepi’s forehand, but she may have the speed and consistency needed to counter it on this surface. Winner: Gauff
UPDATE: Gauff wins, 6-3, 6-4
Carlos Alcaraz vs. Sebastian Korda
Even with Djokovic and Nadal on the bill for Friday, the 19-year-old Alcaraz gets the nod for the night session in Chatrier. After his epic comeback win over Albert Ramos-Viñolas, which had the tennis world riveted for more than four hours on Wednesday, you can understand why. Everyone wants to see Carlitos. Along the way, they’ll also have a chance to see the beginning of what could be a great rivalry for years to come. Korda, 21, and Alcaraz have split their two meetings so far; oddly, the Spaniard won on hard courts at the Next Gen Finals last year, while the American won on clay last month in Monte Carlo—the last match that Alcaraz lost. After saving match point against Ramos-Viñolas, Alcaraz may come into this one with a little extra confidence, knowing that, no matter how far he falls behind, he can never count himself out. Winner: Alcaraz