A few fourth-round picks from the French Open clay today, and there's actually some interesting stuff here. Mensik vs Rublev has a story behind it, Fonseca gets his first crack at Ruud, and Zverev is just trying to keep things ticking over. Let's get into it.
French Open Predictions
Jakub Mensik vs Andrey Rublev
Head-to-head: Mensik 2-0 Rublev
Two wins from two for Mensik, and that's a surprising head-to-head for a 28th-ranked 20-year-old against a seasoned top-15 player. Rublev has been inconsistent this season, going deep at some events and then dropping matches he shouldn't, and the mental weight of this particular matchup isn't nothing. Players do carry baggage into rematches, especially when the losses were painful.
That said, Rublev is the more experienced clay-court player here and at some point the head-to-head has to stop mattering as much as current form and surface comfort. I think he finally gets this one done, but Mensik is capable enough that it won't be clean.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Casper Ruud vs Joao Fonseca
Head-to-head: First meeting
Fonseca has been one of the stories of the year and getting to the fourth round of the French Open at 18 is no small thing. But Ruud on clay is a completely different problem than anything Fonseca has likely faced in this run. Ruud's game is built for this surface and he's become so good at not panicking in long rallies and he rarely beats himself.
Fonseca will have his moments and this is a good experience for him, but Ruud should still find a way to get through here, all things considered.
Prediction: Ruud in 3
Jesper De Jong vs Alexander Zverev
Head-to-head: De Jong 0-2 Zverev
De Jong is ranked 106th and has never beaten Zverev, and Zverev on clay at a big indoor event is about as tough a draw as you can get at this stage of a tournament. The slow conditions stretch rallies out and that plays right into Zverev's hands, where his heavy forehand and serve, two shots that have looked particularly sharp this week, become even harder to deal with over time.
Hard to see this being competitive at all. Zverev in straight sets.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire