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Feeling Andreev's forehand

Continued

Mark Lyons

Igor Andreev will take on another hot player in the quarterfinals – Novak Djokovic.

The Russian began to charge in 2005, winning three titles (including Moscow). But, by the spring of 2006, his knee was busted up and he had to undergo surgery. The last half of the year was trashed. When he came back in January, he felt mentally stronger after spending what he calls the best summer of his life in Moscow hanging out with friends.

He's now more determined and patient. Then in February he was called to play a big role in Davis Cup and led his nation to victory, knocking out Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu. His hard-court results were mediocre and he didn't do huge damage in the clay court warm-ups, but since he arrived in Paris, he's been streaking around the court and blasting forehand winners from every position imaginable. His topspin is rotating at light speed. He's cut down on his mental lapses and sure doesn't look like he's going to fade back into obscurity.

"I don't know about the level, but I think that now I'm mentally much more stronger. It comes with matches. Maybe good players, like [Roger] Federer or Nadal can play one tournament and take a rest for three or four months and then play again the same level. But maybe I'm not that kind of person. … I need some matches; I need some tennis, to go back to the same level."

The men's final eight is set after Nadal smacked Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(5), Novak Djokovic took a 6-3, 6-3 7-6(1) win over Spain's Fernando Verdasco, and Carlos Moya took out old man Jonas Bjorkman 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-5 victory.

THE PICKS
On Sunday, Federer, Nikolay Davydenko, Tommy Robredo and Guillermo Cañas gained the quarters. Federer will face Robredo on Tuesday, while Davydenko will play Cañas. Nadal will take on Moya, a match-up I wrote up on foxsports.com.

For Tuesday, I'll pick Federer in four and Cañas in five.

The women's quarters will all be played on Tuesday where I'll take Serena in a long three over Justine Henin; Jelena Jankovic in three over Nicole Vaidisova; Maria Sharapova in three over Anna Chakvetadze and Ana Ivanovic in three over Svetlana Kuznetsova.

I could see all those women's matches going the other way. In all my years covering the sport, I don't think I've ever said that about four Slam women's quarters. Let's hope they don't disappoint and play each other tight - and well. No sloppy stuff allowed.

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