A blockbuster third-round showdown between Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro is set for Saturday at Roland Garros. John Isner and Karen Khachanov are also aiming for a place in the last 16.
(1) Andy Murray vs. (29) Juan Martin Del Potro
It will be a rematch of a memorable argument, of the 2016 Olympic gold medal showdown, and of a thrilling Davis Cup semifinal rubber last fall when Murray and Del Potro meet again for the 10th time in their careers during third-round action at the French Open on Saturday. Murray is leading the head-to-head series 6-3 and if it feels like they have squared off more than nine times, well, they have packed a punch into those nine contests. They almost came to literal blows in their first-ever battle at the 2008 Rome Masters, where things got personal during a changeover before cooler heads–and chair umpire Fergus Murphy–just barely prevailed. Murray and Del Potro faced each other twice last season, with the Scot capturing gold via a 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 decision before the Argentine scored a 6-4, 5-7, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 victory to help lead the visitors past Great Britain and into the Davis Cup final.
Exhausted from Argentina’s title-winning run, Del Potro skipped the Australian summer and has played sparingly in 2017. The world No. 30, who owns a 13-6 record this season, almost missed this event as well. He has been dealing with shoulder and back injuries, and if those were not enough, a groin issue popped up during his second-rounder against Nicolas Almagro on Thursday. It looked as if retirement may be near, but a knee injury of Almagro’s own flared up again and the Spaniard eventually retired in tears. Murray endured a much different kind of scare on Thursday, when Martin Klizan served to force a fifth set but ended up succumbing 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3) after three hours and 34 minutes. The world No. 1 is still just 18-7 this year and 6-5 in his last 11 matches. This would be a massive opportunity for Del Potro at 100 percent, but that almost certainly won’t be his status when he takes the court against his familiar foe.
Pick: Murray in 4
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(21) John Isner vs. Karen Khachanov
Isner cannot be sure until after this match ends of how fortunate he is to face Khachanov instead of Tomas Berdych, but right now he has to be liking his situation. After all, the 6’10” American is 2-7 lifetime against Berdych, 1-7 in their last eight matches, 0-5 in their last five, and he endured a recent stretch of nine consecutive sets surrendered to the Czech without a single one going to a tiebreaker. Unsurprisingly, Isner has far less extensive history–zero, in fact–with an opponent who has played only 27 ATP-level matches since his professional career began in 2013. In just his third-ever Grand Slam main draw, Khachanov took care of qualifier Nicolas Jarry in four sets before upsetting Berdych 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday. The 21-year-old Russian, who registers at 53rd in the rankings, is a decent 12-15 this season after once being 2-8 through 10 matches.
Eleven years his opponent’s senior, Isner is through to the French Open third round for the fifth time in his career. The 6’10” American reached the fourth round last spring before losing to Murray, whom he would meet at the same stage once again if both players prevail on Saturday. Isner picked up some much-needed momentum by making a run to the Rome semifinals (fell to eventual champion Alexander Zverev) and so far in Paris he has made mostly routine work of Jordan Thompson and Paolo Lorenzi. A considerable edge in experience goes to the world No. 22, whose lifetime accolades on this surface are actually underrated to a significant extent.
Pick: Isner in 4
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who ya got?
Isner in 5, Del Potro in 4
Khachanov in 4 and Murray in 4
Murray over Delpo. Other match not sure. Isner’s experience might give him the edge.
Del Po in five Isner in four
Murray in 3 or 4. Del Potro not fully fit for this match so…
Too bad that Delpo is not 100%. This would have been a great opportunity for him. I think that Murray will get the win in 4 sets.
I am not as sure about Isner/Khachanov. Isner has the advantage with experience. I think that gives him the edge. Isner should get the win in 4 sets.
Andy in 3. I sure hope Andy is okay. Delpo, I heard, nearly retired last match. But Andy has issues too.
Probably Isner in 3 or 4. Voted for Khachanov in 5.
Weather will again be an issue today. Heavy rain expected early this afternoon. Murray likely to lose momentum if play is interrupted too often but banking on him battling his way through.
With rain delays Murray in 5
Without in 4
Murray should barely win, Isner too should make it … http://www.138mph.com/murray-delpo-nishikori-wawrinka-and-monfils-wholl-win-his-round/
Kyle Edmunds is holding his own against Kevin Anderson with some gutsy play. Took the 1st set in a TB. That takes some doing against the South African.
#Allez les Brits
The rain forecasted has not materialised so far. Murray squeaks through to take 1st set.
Kyle Edmunds heading to a fifth set
C’mon Andy!!…Make it in 3!!..even though my Bracket will ruin…oh!what the heck..as long as Andy win!!Wooohooo!!
I’m so glad to see Andy’s form is much better than Rome and Madrid..and so far he keep his promise to up his level at RG…Hope he will get better and better…and i really hope he’ll peak just in time for Wimby…C’mon Andy!!
Hail to the Master of the lob!!
Yes!!Good job Andy!!
RIP my whole draw. Not even gonna think of draw for rest of tournament now. Cuevas and Del Po were my quarterfinalists ? I’m just gonna root for players totally as a fan. I want Isner in the semis please!!
An Isner fan? Aren’t you part of a threatened species? 🙂 I like Big John as a person but can’t stand to watch him play, not being a fan of the Big Serve.
tsame, Ramara.
I am also with Ramara. Not a fan of the ace machine.
Khachanov up 5-1 in the TB.
He’s American so I’m pulling for him. Pretty much as simple as that lol.
Poor Isner! He is too tall.
Ha ha, unlike you, I have Verdasco, Cilic, Anderson, Murray and Stan right! (Refer to my picks at the Daily picks thread). I’m waiting to see whether Isner, Kei and Monfils complete my list of winners for today!
the slower courts should not fancy isner. Think we will have an upset here..
He can play on clay. I wouldn’t count on a Khachanov win
Well done MA – Your telepathic message got through to Andy. Only 35 people voted for a straight set win in Ricky’s poll!!!!! Were you one of them?
I had to miss the third set. What happened to delpo, did the injury problem surface again or was it losing the 1st set TB, followed by early break in the 2nd which caused him to spiral downwards? It was so unlike him: he’s normally such a fighter.
Hehehe….Thanks ed!I didn’t know my telepathic power is soo powerful!!hehehe…Ermm…bout the poll…wellll…wellll…with shame faced i didn’t vote for Andy ed..in fact i never vote in Ricky’s poll..hehe..
Oh!bout DelPo,i also can’t believe he’s unable to take a set from Andy…but then,if you’re playing a top guys and u didn’t take the opportunities..they will punish u…but Andy also seems a very different Andy out there today…his composure was really amazing..his body language and confidence was superb..and we know that he’s going to win…Yay!!C’mon Andy!!!
Murray in 3.
Khachanov in 4. Khachanov is one of the new stars in the game.