The atmosphere probably won’t be the same for Taylor Fritz’s next French Open match, which will come against Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday. Borna Coric and Tomas Martin Etcheverry are also aiming for a place in week two.
(23) Francisco Cerundolo vs. (9) Taylor Fritz
Fritz’s second-round match was one of the most memorable of the French Open so far, but not because it was some kind of epic thriller. With the Fritz playing the night session on Court Suzanne Lenglen against France’s Arthur Rinderknech on Thursday, the fans were predictably bullish in their support of Rinderknech–and in their disdain for Fritz. The eighth-ranked American managed to keep his cool throughout the match and won 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 but afterward gave the crowd the business with plenty of taunting and shushing.
With an Argentine opponent instead of a Frenchman on the other side of the net, Fritz certainly won’t have to endure the same kind of atmosphere on Saturday. Barring something unexpected, it will be all about tennis in this third-round showdown between Fritz and Cerundolo. And that means it should be a great one. While Fritz has soared into the top 10, Cerundolo is also playing the best tennis of his career. The world No. 23 is coming off a quarterfinal run in Rome and a runner-up performance last week in Lyon, giving him a 22-14 record this season. However, Grand Slams have been a problem. Cerundolo has never advanced past a third round and prior to this year had never won a single main-draw match at a major. In this situation, an inspired Fritz will likely have the edge.
Pick: Fritz in 4
(15) Borna Coric vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Coric took the scenic route to get to the third round. The 16th-ranked Croat scraped past Federico Coria in four tight sets and then outlasted Pedro Cachin 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in round two. Thus continues a sudden resurgence for Coric, who started the 2023 campaign in a significant slump but recently advanced to the semifinals in Madrid and the quarterfinals in Rome.
Up next for the No. 15 seed is a third consecutive clay-court specialist in Etcheverry. The 23-year-old Argentine has climbed to 49th in the rankings and has earned 17 of his 21 lifetime ATP-level match victories this season. That includes defeats of Jack Draper (via second-set retirement) and Alex de Minaur (6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3) so far at Roland Garros. This could be one of the best matches of the entire third round, but Etcheverry is making first trip to this stage of a slam and he is facing an opponent who is both experienced and in great form.
Pick: Coric in 5
WWW?
Words like “inspired ‘ don’t go with The Cart Horse.
Come on Cerundulo!!
So the Cart Horse was taunting the crowd?! That’s not exactly smart…let’s hope the French crowd has it in for him now..
Hi Amy 😀
I went back to sleep after I watched Mertens beat Pegula.
Cart horse 😁
I hope Cerundolo wins in 5.
Coric in 5
Who does he think he is, taunting the French? It’s a shame I missed that match.
Oops, the comments are out of place. Coric in 5 should be underneath my word, Cart Horse.
Who does he think he is, taunting the French? It’s a shame I missed that match. I was referring to Fritz, and I thought I erased it. I was trying to be kind.
Cerundulo in 5.
Cerundolo in four. He’s more confortable on these courts
Fritz in 3…Coric in 4.
good luck with that
Me
Lol
If Rafa had played he would have been the #15 seed so where Coric is in the draw. Ie a section devoid of its top seeds Med and Sinner..
Just come in to see Cerundolo take the second set. Come on Cerundolo! The Cart Horse has a pretty awful return I must say…Apparently he was very loudly booed when he came on court..
Cerundolo wins!!😀 The Cart Horse really wasn’t very good. Just like to add, extremely modestly 😀, that when I saw Ricky had picked the Cart Horse to the sfs I did say Cerundolo could beat him.
Ricky tends to back Americans…..just sayin’ 😉
meh…
Nice win for Cerundolo beating Fritz. Hes had a nice run. This is where it ends though. Rune in 4
Not me