Two-time champion Serena Williams survived a major scare on Monday, edging past compatriot Sloane Stephens to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2015 French Open. There she will meet the ever-dangerous Sara Errani who booked a place in the last eight with a straight-sets win over Julia Goerges.
Read on below for a complete preview of this blockbuster showdown. You can also check out the men’s side of the draw with our previews of Djokovic vs. Nadal and Murray vs. Ferrer.
[sc:TennisArticles ]Serena Williams vs. Sara Errani Betting Preview
Where: Roland Garros, Paris
When: Wednesday, June 3, 4:00 AM ET
Line: Serena Williams (-900) vs. Sara Errani (+550) – view all French Open lines
Betting on Serena Williams
How many more miracles can Serena Williams pull off in this year’s French Open? For the second time in three days, the World No. 1 came back from the brink to keep her title dreams alive. After rallying from a set and 4-2 deficit against Victoria Azarenka in the previous round, Williams did much of the same on Monday, coming back from a set down to beat Sloane Stephens, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
[sc:Other240banner ]The 19-time Grand Slam champion was three points from defeat against Stephens but her resilience proved to be the difference once again as she improved her record against her compatriot to 5-1. It’s incredible to think that Williams is still alive in this tournament considering she has lost the opening set in her last three matches.
The path to a third French Open title became much clearer for Williams as well as her main rivals fell by the wayside in the fourth round. With Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova losing their round-of-16 matches, No. 7 Ana Ivanovic is the only other woman in the quarterfinal draw to have won a Grand Slam tournament.
Williams will fancy her chances of booking a place in the semifinals as she has fared extremely well against Errani in the past. Williams is unbeaten in eight previous meetings against the Italian. Williams is 5-0 against Errani on clay.
For Williams to continue her dominance against Errani, she needs to improve on her first serve percentage. She converted just 62% of her first serves in her previous four matches. That’s trouble against Errani who converted five of her seven break point opportunities against Julia Goerges in the fourth round.
Williams is 8-2 in her last 10 matches.
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Betting on Sara Errani
Sara Errani barged into the quarterfinals of the 2015 French Open with a resounding 6-2, 6-2 win over Julia Goerges. It was an emphatic performance from Errani who needed just one hour and 10 minutes to record the straight-sets victory.
Errani has been in fine form the past two rounds, dropping a total of just 10 games in her last two matches. Things are bound to get tougher, though, for the 28-year-old as standing in her way in the quarterfinals is the 19-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.
Errani is 0-8 lifetime against Williams. The Italian has won just two sets in those eight matches. That being said, Errani pushed Williams to the brink in their last meeting in the Fed Cup last April, eventually losing in three sets, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.
For Errani to pull off the massive upset, she needs to continue her highly-efficient play. She has recorded a total of just 15 unforced errors in her last two matches here. In her straight-sets win against Goerges, Errani committed just three unforced errors. That’s a far cry from Williams who has committed an average of 33.3 unforced errors in her previous four matches. If that remains the case this coming Wednesday, a major shock could be in the cards in the women’s draw.
Errani is 7-3 in her last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Williams (-900) beats Errani in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.
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