Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo (1) vs. Nicolas Mahut/Edouard Roger-Vasselin (11):It’s been an interesting tournament so far for Mahut. Going without his Grand Slam-winning partner, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Mahut hasn’t missed a beat with Roger-Vasselin. They’ve settled into a solid groove and have a good chance against the top seeds. Kubot and Melo, who won the tournament in 2017, have seen some of the attention deflected from them and have been efficiently making their way through the draw.
Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic (1) vs. Kveta Peschke/Nicole Melichar (7): Since 2018, Babos and Mladenovic have won two of the past six majors, as well as a WTA Finals crown. Fresh off their French Open triumph, the former Wimbledon finalists are entering the quarterfinals by way of walkover in the third round. That can be both a blessing and a curse: Will fresh legs help them against Peschke and Melichar, last year’s finalists, or will the lack of match play do them in? It’s a finals-worthy contest two rounds early, one that could spur the winner on to the title.
Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias