French Open R4 previews and predictions: Zverev vs. Nishikori, Medvedev vs. Garin

Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev are looking like serious contenders in the relatively open bottom half of the French Open draw. They will continue their campaigns against Kei Nishikori and Cristian Garin, respectively, when fourth-round action begins on Sunday.

(6) Alexander Zverev vs. Kei Nishikori

Zverev and Nishikori will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers and for the third time during this clay-court swing when they battle for a spot in the French Open quarterfinals on Sunday night. The head-to-head series stands at 4-1 in Zverev’s favor following recent victories in Madrid (6-3, 6-2) and Rome (4-6, 6-3, 6-4). Their other clay-court contest came at the Monte-Carlo Masters in 2018, when Nishikori prevailed 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Although the Japanese veteran is an obvious underdog, an early retirement from Henri Laaksonen on Friday was just what the doctor ordered. Nishikori was coming off five-setters against both Alessandro Giannessi and Karen Khachanov, so his always fragile body could not have been in peak shape. He should be well-rested now, and he will have to be against Zverev. The Madrid champion needed five sets of his own against Oscar Otte in round one, but he has since made straight-set work of Roman Safiullin and Laslo Djere. Although Zverev should be able to make it three in a row at Nishikori’s expense, don’t expect it to be a walk in the park.

Pick: Zverev in 4

(22) Cristian Garin vs. (2) Daniil Medvedev

Going into this French Open, almost anyone would have given the edge to Garin in a clay-court match against Medvedev. After all, Garin just beat Medvedev 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-1 at last month’s Madrid Masters and the Chilean is a clay-court specialist whereas Medvedev is…not! Three rounds into this fortnight, however, the Russian’s tune is changing. He has insisted that these conditions in Paris are suiting him just fine and he is posting the results to back it up. Medvedev, who had previously been 0-4 lifetime at this tournament, has dropped only one set in victories over Alexander Bublik, Tommy Paul, and Reilly Opelka.

Garin, on the other hand, has not been convincing at all. The 23rd-ranked Chilean surrendered a set to both Juan Ignacio Londero and Marcos Giron in addition to beating Mackenzie McDonald 8-6 in the fifth after being one point away from a straight-set defeat. Aside from this result and a quarterfinal showing in Madrid, Garin’s spring efforts on clay have been disappointing. This is also his first-ever trip to the fourth round of a slam, while Medvedev obviously has much more big-match experience at this stage. The world No. 2’s clay-court bandwagon is filling up, and it will likely have more passengers following Sunday’s contest.

Pick: Medvedev in 4