Day seven at Roland Garros: French Open betting preview, tips & TV details

Day seven
ITV4 & Eurosport 1, from 10am Saturday

F Fognini v R Bautista Agut

It has been virtually one-way traffic to back Roberto Bautista Agut to defeat Fabio Fognini, but given that the Italian leads his Spanish opponent 7-3 in their personal series it could be worth supporting the higher-ranked player.

Fognini, seeded ninth compared to Bautista Agut’s 18th, has made more errors in the first two rounds than his opponent.

But that may count for little considering the San Remo ace achieved a career-best result on clay when winning the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

Bautista Agut won their most recent clash in Miami in March but Fognini, who did well to deny Federico Delbonis in round two, has a viable outside title shout in Paris and ought to get the job done.

Recommendation
F Fognini
1pt 5-6 Betfair, RedZone

D Lajovic v A Zverev

Opposing Alexander Zverev with Mikael Ymer in round two back­fired spectacularly, but it could pay to have another go when the German meets Dusan Lajovic.

Zverev bossed Ymer more than was anticipated, but last week­end’s Geneva champion may struggle to do likewise against the more experienced Lajovic, who achieved a career-best result when reaching the Monte Carlo final.

Lajovic is not without a chance of overturning Zverev, but don’t miss the chance to back the Serb with a start of 6.5 games.

Recommendation
D Lajovic +6.5 games
1pt 4-6 Coral, Ladbrokes

Djokovic v Caruso

Novak Djokovic is expected to make light work of Salvatore Caruso and the top seed may well do that, but at the prices available the Italian qualifier looks the bet with a handicap start of 10.5 games.

Djokovic, who would hold all four major titles if he wins at Roland Garros on Sunday week, is no spring chicken at 32.

Considering the world number one is taking on an in-form, progressive opponent who at 26 may be somewhere near the peak of his physical powers, this clash could be closer than many oddsmakers expect.

Caruso was superb when dumping 26th seed Gilles Simon, no mug on any terrain, 6-1 6-2 6-4 in the last 64 in Paris and having seen fellow Sicilian Marco Cecchinato dump Djokovic in the Paris quarter-finals last year, he may fancy his chances.

Recommendation
S Caruso +10.5 games
1pt Evs Hills

Women's matches

Rio Olympics gold medallist Monica Puig may be on the verge of something big, but the Puerto Rican faces a stiff test of her credentials against Iga Swiatek.

The Pole has been well backed to win and while Puig downed Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-1 on Thursday, Swiatek was arguably even more convincing when hammering Qiang Wang 6-3 6-0.

Amanda Anisimova may well continue her impressive apprentice­­ship with a victory over Irina-Camelia Begu, but the Romanian has an opportunity to make up for lost injury-hit time in Paris and this could be close.

Andrea Petkovic has ensured she won’t lose points accrued from reaching the last 32 at Roland Garros last year, but a date with eighth seed Ashleigh Barty could hardly be more difficult.

The penny may be dropping for Katerina Siniakova in majors but the Czech may still struggle to do what Victoria Azarenka could not achieve and deny Naomi Osaka.

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