Our tennis tipster Andy Schooler is expecting another marathon match when Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas go head-to-head at the French Open on Wednesday.
Recommended bet
2pts over 40.5 games in Andrey Rublev v Stefanos Tsitsipas at 10/11
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Andrey Rublev v Stefanos Tsitsipas
On the same day the French Open began, these two played one of the best matches of the 2020 ATP Tour in the Hamburg final and, less than two weeks on, we could be in for something special again.
The pair of 22-year-olds could be battling each other for years to come at the top of the game and it’s a rivalry which could offer much if their past matches are anything to go by.
They’ve met four times at various levels with Rublev leading 3-1. However, each contest has been a close affair and I’d expect no different here given their form.
Having hot-footed it to Paris from Germany, both men almost went out in round one, each coming from two sets down, but since then they’ve looked pretty impressive.
Tsitsipas has only lost serve once since that first-round scrape with Jaume Munar and says he’s now got to grips with the sluggish conditions.
But Rublev has also done well, crushing Kevin Anderson without even facing break point before battling to a four-set win over the in-form Marton Fucsovics.
He did look vulnerable early in that match – coming from a set and 5-2 down – and perhaps that’s a factor in him being priced up at 11/8 for victory.
That head-to-head record is certainly in his favour – Rublev has also won their only claycourt encounter – with Tsitsipas’ only win coming at the NextGen Finals of 2018, an event which uses the Fast4 scoring format (first to four games wins the set).
However, what strikes you looking through their previous matches is how close they’ve all been.
Two went to final-set tie-breaks, another – that Hamburg final - to 7-5 in the decider. The other was a four-setter at the US Open which featured two tie-breaks.
Both have power in their racquet and both are capable of getting plenty back in these conditions.
I don’t see any reason not to expect another hard-fought battle and so I’m going long on the total games with over 40.5 at 10/11 (BoyleSports) worth a play.
For those seeking something bigger, Sky Bet’s 5/1 about the match featuring two or more tie-breaks has potential.
That occurred in that aforementioned US Open clash last year, while three of their five Fast4 sets also went the distance in Milan in 2018.
Novak Djokovic v Pablo Carreno Busta
Wednesday’s second semi-final sees Djokovic and Carreno Busta meet one month after the famous US Open default of the world number one.
Having followed that up with a title run in Rome, it remains his only defeat of 2020. Put self-inflicted losses aside and the Serb remains unbeaten.
Many won’t remember but Carreno Busta was the man down the other end that night and he took advantage to progress, eventually losing in the semi-finals.
What is also forgotten is that PCB was playing very well at the time Djokovic blasted the ball (accidentally it should be said) into the throat of a linesperson – he was about to serve for the first set.
Carreno Busta has continued his good form here in Paris, losing only one set en route to the last eight. He should have some stickability in the long rallies but for all that he was brought up on clay, I’d fancy his chances more of a slowish hardcourt such as the one they played on in New York.
Djokovic is yet to lose a set at Roland Garros am I’m not revealing much by saying he’ll likely to do everything just that little bit better than his opponent.
The prices suggest he’ll win in straight sets (1/2).
Based on what we saw in New York – and the fact that he took Djokovic the distance on clay in Monte Carlo three years ago – you can make a case for PCB winning a set (6/4).
However, a better approach if you want to get with him in some way is probably the total games lines – over 28.5 at 17/20 is probably what I’d choose if I had to.
But, to be frank, not a great deal appeals in this match where the prices are heavily weighted in Djokovic’s favour for a reason.
