A few picks from the French Open qualifying today, and we've got a couple of interesting calls in here, including backing the lower-ranked player in two of the three matches. Let's get into it.
French Open Qualifying Predictions
Martin Damm vs Toby Samuel
Head-to-head: Damm 1-0 Samuel
Damm leads the head-to-head but you'd be surprised how little that means at this level when form is everything. Damm is ranked higher at 115 and won their only previous meeting, so on paper this looks like his match to lose. That said, Samuel has been quietly improving and at 161 in the world he's not a pushover, and something about this one feels like it goes the distance.
I think Samuel finds a way through in three, but it won't be comfortable for anyone watching.
Prediction: Samuel in 3
Jesper De Jong vs Fajing Sun
Head-to-head: First meeting
De Jong is ranked 102 to Sun's 197 and that gap is hard to ignore. Sun hasn't really broken through at this level and De Jong, while not setting the world on fire recently, is a solid and experienced qualifier who knows what it takes to win these kinds of matches.
Hard to see this being competitive at all, though Sun makes him work for it and this one goes the distance too.
Prediction: Jong in 3
Juan Carlos Prado Angelo vs Mackenzie McDonald
Head-to-head: First meeting
This is the most interesting pick of the three. McDonald is ranked 129 to Prado Angelo's 180, so backing the Argentine here goes against the rankings, but McDonald has had a rough stretch recently and hasn't shown much to suggest he's playing with any real confidence right now. To make things worse, Prado Angelo is a young claycourter who competes hard and on this surface the ranking gap matters less than usual.
Prediction: Angelo in 3, all things considered.
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Dennis Agyeman/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire