ESPN.com - French Open 2002 - Capriati, Venus to get first tests
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Thursday, July 17
Capriati, Venus to get first tests
By Mary Joe Fernandez

Mary Joe's Picks
Mary Joe Fernandez
Fernandez
Former WTA Tour pro Mary Joe Fernandez is providing ESPN.com with in-depth analysis during the French Open. Fernandez, a tennis analyst for ESPN, became the youngest player to win a U.S. Open match in 1985. In doubles, she won the '91 Australian Open, the '92 Olympic gold and the '96 French Open.

It's been an interesting first week with the rainy weather and some of the play. A lot of seeds went out early. The biggest surprises were the two contenders who lost, both from Belgium, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.

Here are my picks for the rest of the field in the round of 16.

Jennifer Capriati (1), United States, vs. Patty Schnyder (20), Switzerland
The most interesting of all the matches is this one. Capriati lost to Schnyder in Charleston. Schnyder is a talented left-hander. She hits different spins and her serve is a little tricky. Expect Capriati to come out on top. Capriati is a much better pressure player.
Pick: Capriati

Katarina Srebotnik, Slovakia, vs. Jelena Dokic (7), Yugoslavia
Srebotnik is very talented. I was expecting more things from her a couple of years ago. She has an all-court game. She's very tall. But mentally she hasn't put it together yet. Dokic came through a very good second-round match when she beat Conchita Martinez 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2.
Pick: Dokic

Serena Williams (3), United States, vs. Vera Zvonareva, Russia
Zvonareva is a Russian qualifier who has beaten a few good clay-courters. However, Serena is my pick to win the whole thing, so I think she's going to win.
Pick: Serena Williams

Silvia Farina Elia (9), Italy vs. Mary Pierce, France
Farina Elia is the favorite, but Pierce has good memories here. Pierce won the 2000 title. She couldn't play last year because of injury, so she's won 10 matches in a row at the French Open. She had a few rough matches coming in to this event, but she's starting to get her confidence back.
Pick: Pierce

Paola Suarez, Argentina, vs. Amelie Mauresmo (10), France
Suarez got through by beating Sandrine Testud in the first round. She's a good clay-courter but doesn't have too many weapons. Mauresmo is one of the dangerous players outside of the top three. She should get through without any problems.
Pick: Mauresmo

Elena Dementieva (13), Russia, vs. Clarisa Fernandez, Argentina
Elena Dementieva is starting to play better. She's been struggling with her confidence. Fernandez, who upset Kim Clijsters on Friday, is a lefty and all-court player who can attack and move well. I'm going to go out on a limb and pick Fernandez.
Pick: Fernandez

Monica Seles (6), United States, vs. Daniela Hantuchova (11), Slovakia
This match is going to be a lot of fun to watch. You know what to expect with Seles: She's going to fight hard and trade groundstrokes. Hantuchova is so talented. She's better on faster surfaces, but she's approaching this like a faster court -- attacking the short balls. Give Seles the edge because of experience.
Pick: Seles

Chanda Rubin, United States, vs. Venus Williams (2), United States
This will be Venus' first test of the tournament. Rubin is coming off surgery on a knee injury and is looking great. She got to the finals last week in Madrid. She'll be tough. Venus is playing well, though. It's the best I've seen her play this early in a major tournament.
Pick: Venus Williams

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