Friday’s French Open Tips: Men’s Semi-Final day
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Nadal and Del Potro headline semi-final day
The big summer of tennis is well underway now. Despite a few notable big-name absentees, we’ve had plenty of great entertainment at the French Open.
This is primed to continue as we come to the business end of the tournament.
Men’s semi-final day at Roland Garros has some stalwarts, a player tipped for big things as well as a surprise package amongst the quartet.
The Coral News Team the ‘King of Clay’ is ready to reign supreme yet again or if a new name is to be written into the history books.
Dominic Thiem to beat Marco Cecchinato @ 1/8
Marco Cecchinato has been the underdog in the majority of his matches so far.
However, the 25-year-old has shrugged off each opponent and showcased his versatility on the way to the last-four.
His quarter-final victory over former world number-one Novak Djokovic really got heads turning.
Any victory over the Serbian tastes sweet but to take him to five-sets and win is impressive.
Cecchinato’s momentum is something that Thiem will have to be wary of.
Thiem’s big test came against Alexander Zverev who was tipped to be a real threat this year.
He came through a tight first set 6-4 before an injury to Zverev ended this one as contest.
The Austrian ran out straight sets victor to set up yet another last-four appearance at Roland Garros.
He’s now in his third consecutive French Open semi-final and won’t have a better chance of making the next step.
Cecchinato hadn’t won a single main draw match at a major until this tournament. He’ll be eager to get back on the court. He’s 5/1 to win and continue his fine form.
This time two weeks ago many would’ve predicted a straight-sets win for Thiem but now it’s not that simple.
Rafael Nadal to overcome Juan Martin Del Potro @ 1/7
These two men have faced each other fourteen times since their first match-up in 2007, with Nadal holding a 9-5 lead over the Argentine.
The Spaniard beat Del Potro in their one and only meeting on the clay, also in 2007.
However, since ‘Delpo’s’ victory in the 2016 Olympics they’re level at 1-1.
These two don’t play minor matches with their last four ties being either a semi-final or a final.
Del Potro will definitely be Nadal’s biggest test to date and has the artillery to thwart the world number-one.
He will try to keep points short and control the match off his huge serve and forehand game.
Del Potro is at 9/2 to beat Nadal on clay for the first time in his career.
If he can break serve early and get the crowd rallying behind him then it could unease Nadal.
But, he isn’t called the ‘King of clay’ without any substance.
Nadal showed that yet again in the quarter-final against Diego Shwartzman. When there’s opposition to his crown he finds a way to get the job done.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
