The French Open got back on track on Wednesday as all the matches that could be played in the singles competitions were played and on Thursday the semi-final line ups for both the men and the women will be confirmed ahead of a semi-final showdown day on Friday.
Wednesday recap
It was a good day for both number one seeds who came through without losing another set. Serena Williams needed just over an hour to take care of Elina Svitolina while Novak Djokovic didn’t waste too much more time in getting rid of Roberto Bautista-Agut.
Elsewhere there were wins for Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka to set up one men’s semi-final while both Garbine Muguruza and Sam Stosur came through in straight sets to tie up the bottom half semi-final in the women’s draw.
There were also comfortable wins for Tomas Berdych in straight sets over David Ferrer, for David Goffin over Ernests Gulbis and for Dominic Thiem over Marcel Granollers while on the women’s side of things Timea Bacsinszky, Kiki Bertens and Yulia Putintseva all came through in straight sets.
Thursday – Men’s Matches
Just the two quarter finals remain in the men’s draw and both will hopefully be played out on a potentially damp Thursday. The pick of them in terms of the world rankings will come in the match between Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych but the better battle could result in the Dominic Thiem and David Goffin clash.
Those who followed me in the outright preview before a ball was hit in this tournament will already be on Thiem at 7/1 to beat Goffin where actually he’s odds on. I’m not going to get involved in that match again – there is no need to given the value we have.
I am getting involved in the other game where it would be pushing it to say Novak Djokovic has looked anything like himself this week so far. He dropped a set to Bautista-Agut and was in danger of dropping another. He also came close to losing a set against Steve Darcis in the second round and Aljaz Bedene had a spell where he was all over Djokovic’s serve – all worrying signs.
I began the tournament taking Tomas Berdych on but his dominating win against a pain in the backside opponent in David Ferrer really caught the eye, as in fairness did his comeback win against Pablo Cuevas in the round before. I sense Berdych is really enjoying the heavier conditions at his disposal.
I think there is a little fantasy involved in believing that Berdych can win this match – he’s only done it twice in 25 meetings with Djokovic but it is a little less farfetched to think he can win a set or at the very least keep a couple close and that interests me.
That is because the games line for this match is at 31.5 which actually looks a little low. First of all Berdych has never lost in straight sets to Djokovic on the clay and I don’t think he will here given that he can power the ball through the heavier conditions unlike many others. Although Djokovic has won the last 10 meetings Berdych generally keeps things close.
In four of the last six meetings the Czech has either won a set or he has forced a tie-break and if he does either of those here then the over 31.5 games has to be in with every chance. I think that line is a fair few games too low.
Thursday – Women’s Matches
All eyes will no doubt be on Serena Williams once again as the American star looks to book her spot in another Grand Slam semi-final. She is heavily expected to do so given that the bookmakers are asking her to cover a 6.5 game handicap but it should be noted that in both the previous meetings with Yulia Putintseva the Kazakh has forced a tie-break in the first set.
That should suggest that maybe Putintseva with the 6.5 game start should be the play but this is her first Grand Slam quarter final and she is sure to be a little nervous so rather than guess about things I’ll sit this one out.
The other game catches my eye though where Kiki Bertens is on a crazy winnng run at the minute having won in Nurnberg prior to this tournament and now she has made it into this quarter final. She had also been on a good run in the doubles too although that came to an end on Wednesday. I suspect her singles run ends here too.
She faces a Timea Bacsinszky that has looked very good in this tournament thus far and the way she powered past Venus Williams on Wednesday without letting the American into the match at any stage was a real standout performance. Her equally impressive win over Eugenie Bouchard earlier in the tournament further signifies how well the Swiss star is playing.
You can’t take anything away from Bertens but I simply feel she is up against the better player, the world rankings clearly highlight that, who is on top form and I expect that to translate into a Swiss win and one which covers a 2.5 game handicap.
Tips
Back N.Djokovic vs T.Berdych – Over 31.5 games for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with Betfair
Back T.Bacsinszky (-2.5 games) to beat K.Bertens for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with Betfair
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