The French Open is heating up with Holger Rune battling Francisco Cerundolo and Casper Ruud taking on Nicolas Jarry with the quarterfinals on the line. They are part of a wide-open bottom half of the draw.
(6) Holger Rune vs. (23) Francisco Cerundolo
Holger Rune had his first big breakthrough at a Grand Slam last year in Paris. He upset Stefanos Tsitsipas in the round of 16 to earn a spot in the quarters, but he was dismissed in four sets by eventual finalist Casper Ruud. In the midst of a season of wins and outstanding play on the clay courts of Europe, very few of Rune’s wins are now “upsets.”
The world No. 6 has had an easy time of it through the first week of play. He dropped a set to Chris Eubanks in the first round but skipped over the second round completely with opponent Gael Monfils’ withdraw from the tournament. The Dane dismissed qualifier Genaro Alberto Olivieri in routine straight sets in the last round.
Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo is having the best season of his career. The world No. 23 has been playing fantastic tennis since his run to the quarters at the Miami Masters. He had a far more complicated path the the round of 16; he upended Juame Munar, in-form German Yannick Hanfmann, and No. 9 seed Taylor Fritz to earn his spot in the fourth round.
This will be the first true test for Rune, but the 20-year-old is playing solid clay-court tennis. Fatigue may also start to be a factor for Cerundolo, who made the final of Lyon right before the French Open started. Expect an entertaining match that goes Rune’s way.
Cheryl pick: Rune in 4
Ricky pick: Rune in 4
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(4) Casper Ruud vs. Nicolas Jarry
Norway’s Casper Ruud has been quietly making his way through the French Open draw. The 2022 French Open and U.S. Open finalist has had such a dismal 2023 that he came into the tournament not part of the conversation of tournament favorites. Yet here he is in the fourth round, outperforming the likes of Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner.
Nicolas Jarry is ranked a career-high 35th in the world thanks in part to his tournament win in Geneva a couple weeks ago. Jarry’s path to the fourth round included Hugo Dellien and Americans Tommy Paul and Marcos Giron. The Chilean got his first match win over Ruud just a couple weeks ago en route to his title in Geneva. It was Jarry’s most difficult match of the week.
If either player manages to recreate the battle from two weeks ago, fans are in for a real treat. Jarry is enjoying the better form of the two players right now, but Ruud has more experience in big-match situations.
Cheryl pick: Ruud in 5
Ricky pick: Ruud in 4
[yop_poll id=”294″]
I think Rudd wins in 4 tight sets. Rune in 4 not so tight sets
Mostly agree w/Cheryl (as usual!)….Rune in 4; Rudd in 4.
You get it wrong most of the time, then?…and you copy what the bookies think which means you’re a losing bettor.
who ya got?
Jarry in 4, maybe 5
Rune or Cerundolo in 5 (Rune probably has the edge but Cerundolo is the value by a significant margin)
Anyone can copy the bookmakers and lose money over the long run.
N. Jarry could win this match and this match is likely going to the 4th or 5th set as I don’t see either player winning in straight sets.
Etcheverry in 4, maybe 5
Zverev in 5 (Dimitrov can win)
Rune in 3, Ruud in 4
Jarry came out flying, Ruud hits a net cord and the edge of the line in a late rushed forehand to save break points and Jarry funds himself down 3:0.
Just like the business world where the best people don’t necessarily win.
Looks like Ruud’s luck run out; he stopped hitting the edge of the lines on rushed forehands and 2nd serves.
Rune is playing very patchy. Cerundolo isn’t playing that well and not taking chances but this won’t cut it in the next round.
We all know its a matter of how well they are playing on the day. Both are more than capable of beating Ruud
I want Rune to win. But he is playing extremely sub par.4 winners to 14 ues is very worrying.
Rune is playing: one for me, one for you, I got this. And he has maybe underestimated Cerundolo. He can’t do that! It’s an excellent way to lose.
Casper Ruud appears to have figured out Jarry. Ruud played a difficult opponent with the right amount of respect and guile. He had many of us thinking he was having a bad CC season. 😀
Surprisingly there is a very good chance Ruud gets to the final again. Wherever Ruud is in the draw all, or virtually all the seeds lose! Happened at RG last year. Happening this year. Happened at the USO.
It’s bizarre.
Not just his quarter but his whole side of the draw…
https://live-tennis.eu/en/atp-singles-draws
This ^ is where I go when I can’t remember who is where.
ATP QFs are not as impressive as the WTA.
That is just my opinion.
No one’s way is better. I bet based on how a player is performing right at this moment, whereas you bet based on what the bookies are predicting, how a player has performed over a longer time period, and what you think will happen in the future (i.e he’s playing crap but will step it up now).
I can’t bet your way because it’s unreliable. It’s based on too many assumptions, and I know you’re already paying “unders” for favorites, which makes it difficult to win over the long run.
Each to their own.
If you’re open-minded, you’ll admit that Jarry was unlucky to be down 3-0 in the first set (Ruud hit a net cord and edge of the line to save break points) and then had to play catch-up. He then went up 4-1 in the second set but ended up losing it, and the same happened when he went up 4-2 in the third set and still lost. Sometimes you can make an accurate prediction that simply doesn’t pay off.
🤔 Wow, wow.
Great tennis!
Oh no, Ruud vs. Rune QF
I really do hope Rudd makes it to the final again……….do it for Rafa Rudd!!! VAMOS!!!
Think there is a good chance he does Mona. Rune was incredibly inconsistent yesterday and was very lucky with a point going his way on a double bounce due to the umpire getting things completely wrong which gave him a crucial break.
If he plays like that again, he will definitely lose.