Our tennis man Scott Ferguson is siding with his pre-tournament tip Sloane Stephens as part of Friday's best French Open bets.
Recommended bets
2pts Sloane Stephens to win 2-0 at 4/5
0.5pt Nicolas Mahut to beat Leo Mayer at 3/1
For advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
- By Scott Ferguson
Sloane Stephens v Polona Hercog
My early tip for the women's tournament, American Sloane Stephens, has progressed to the third round without dropping a set. In both matches she has established the early lead and held off the pressure in tighter second sets, both times ending in a tiebreak.
Like a seasoned big event player, she steps up a level with each round, as she seeks to continue her consistent run at Roland Garros - reaching at least the third round the last six times she has played here.
Polona Hercog has made hard work of her opening rounds, defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Jennifer Brady in three tough sets. She won't have the luxury of being able to have a lapse in concentration against hardcourters here, or stay in play with a weak second serve - Stephens will jump all over it as she has done in the past.
In three previous clashes, Hercog is yet to win a set and this time Stephens is ranked higher than for any of those encounters. There's little reason to expect anything other than the same result again.
2pts Sloane Stephens to win 2-0 at 4/5
Nicolas Mahut v Leonardo Mayer
Local veteran Nicolas Mahut has been the feel-good story of the tournament so far for the local fans. A week ago he was doubting he could take up his wild card in the main draw, now he is in the third round, equalling his best performance in his 20th French Open.
In fact he's only ever been beyond this stage once at a major tournament, at Wimbledon 2016. But these are different times. Now 37, Mahut admits he has nothing to lose and just wants to enjoy his tennis. That carefree attitude has taken a big weight off his shoulders and his two scalps so far have been current and former top 20 players. In theory this match is an easier one, but life rarely works like that.
Leonardo Mayer hasn't enjoyed the best of years, his 2019 record so far stands at 12-14, illustrating how hard he has found it to string wins together. That form may be changing, however, with two aggressive wins so far, dominating Jiri Vesely and Diego Schwartzman, baseliners who allowed him the rhythm to go for his shots.
Taking him back out of that comfort zone will be the key to bringing him down and the Frenchman is wily enough to make him work for it.
In simple terms, if Mahut keeps serving the way he has so far, and mixing up the pace of his groundstrokes, he'll prove tough to beat. Players have commented that the new Simonne Mathieu court is faster than others at the venue, a tiny detail that has great benefit for Mahut.
