The remaining spots in week two of the French Open might be handed out on Saturday, when Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz are amongst these taking the court docket. Djokovic is dealing with Lorenzo Musetti, whereas Fritz goes up in opposition to Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Listed here are my previews and picks for these two matchups.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (30) Lorenzo MusettiDjokovic was a query mark heading into Roland Garros due to a lackluster degree of play, however by way of two rounds it has been clean crusing for him. The world No. 1 started his fortnight by beating Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4 after which eased previous Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. It’ll doubtless get rather a lot harder within the third spherical in opposition to Musetti, who trails the head-to-head collection 4-1–together with 2-1 on clay. They simply squared off in Monte-Carlo, the place Djokovic bought the job accomplished 7-5, 6-3. Their earlier matchup in Paris noticed the Serb recuperate from a two-set deficit earlier than getting a retirement from Musetti at 4-0 within the fifth. The Italian’s lone success in opposition to Djokovic got here through a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 choice final spring in Monte-Carlo.
Like Djokovic, Musetti has not misplaced a single set to this point on the French. The world No. 30 dismissed Daniel Elahi Galan 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 after which broke French followers’ hearts with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Gael Monfils. As poor as Djokovic had beforehand performed this season, he all the time appears to lift his degree at Grand Slams–to this point that’s precisely what has occurred this fortnight. For sure, that’s unhealthy information for Musetti.
Choose: Djokovic in 4
(12) Taylor Fritz vs. Thanasi KokkinakisThis would be the first encounter between Fritz and Kokkinakis in nearly six full years, with the head-to-head collection all tied up at one win apiece. Each conferences have come on the laborious courts of Los Cabos; Kokkinakis prevailed 7-6(5), 6-2 in 2017 earlier than Fritz scored a 7-6(6), 7-6(5) victory in 2018. Kokkinakis usually has a aptitude for the dramatic on court docket and this occasion has been no exception. The A centesimal-rankedAustralian went the space in every of his first two rounds; 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 over fellow Aussie Alexei Popyrin and 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2 over Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri.
The story has been a lot completely different for Fritz, who wanted 4 largely routine units to get previous each Federico Coria and Dusan Lajovic. The Twelfth-ranked American has been pink sizzling on clay this 12 months, highlighted by a runner-up efficiency in Munich, a semifinal exhibiting in Madrid, and a quarterfinal effort in Rome. Rely on Fritz proceed his successful methods on the expense of a fatigued opponent.
Choose: Fritz in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
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