French Open predictions and tennis betting tips: Tsitsipas faces stern test

Free tennis tips, best bets and analysis for day ten of the French Open at Roland Garros, Paris on Tuesday.

Where to watch

ITV4 & Eurosport, from 10am, Tuesday

Best bets

Alexander Zverev -6.5 games v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
1pt 8-13 Coral, Ladbrokes

Over 3.5 sets in Stefanos Tsitsipas v Daniil Medvedev
1pt 4-7 BoyleSports

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to beat Elena Rybakina
1pt 13-10 bet365

Paula Badosa -3.5 games v Tamara Zidansek
1pt 8-13 Coral, Ladbrokes

Already advised pre-tournament

Stefanos Tsitsipas to win fourth quarter
1pt Evs Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

Alexander Zverev v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Alexander Zverev looks a danger to all in the French Open and it's no surprise to see him a warm order to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

But the German is not the most consistent of performers and considering he is taking on a slowly-improving Spaniard for a place in the Roland Garros semi-finals, punters should be wary of what could go wrong for the sixth seed.

Zverev has won his last three singles outings in straight sets, but he had to fight back from two sets down to deny compatriot qualifier Oscar Otte in round one.

Rafael Nadal Academy prospect Davidovich Fokina is an out-and-out workhorse, but triumphs over Casper Ruud and Federico Delbonis tell us that he's going the right way.

Zverev has won all five sets he has contested against Davidovich Fokina. But while it was close in Cologne last October, a month earlier the Spaniard won only five games in their US Open rumble.

Zverev may find his last-eight opponent a tougher proposition than Kei Nishikori, who accrued only six games against the German in round four, but the bet still looks to be the favourite successfully conceding 6.5 games on the handicap.

Stefanos Tsitsipas v Daniil Medvedev

Stefanos Tsitsipas is playing some fine tennis, but that does not mean the Greek should be considered a shoo-in to reach the last four of this year's French Open.

Far from it. Daniil Medvedev's least favourite surface is clay but the second seed remains an accomplished performer on any terrain. And with possible dates against Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal to come, Tsitsipas and his supporters should take nothing for granted.

Tsitsipas and Medvedev are no strangers to logging three-set wins in Grand Slam tournaments, but we could see a competitive encounter in their quarter-final rumble.

Medvedev enjoys a 6-1 lead in their personal series and the Russian won their only previous clay meeting too, 6-2 1-6 6-4 in the Monte Carlo Masters in 2019. Tsitsipas's solitary triumph came indoors – another reason why Medvedev should not be written off on this occasion.

But rather than try to support the outsider against an opponent tipped to win his quarter before the tournament started, the way to go could be over 3.5 sets, even though the pair's last three meetings saw straight-sets wins.

Elena Rybakina v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

It's a first career meeting for Elena Rybakina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and while 21st seed Rybakina will be a popular order after defeating Serena Williams in round four, Pavlyuchenkova has a big chance to post a career-best effort in a Grand Slam singles tournament.

Pavlyuchenkova has long possessed huge potential, but putting it all together and coming up with a product that works can often be tough.

However, victories over Ajla Tomljanovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka suggest Pavs is performing at or near her peak and a combination of experience and power could help the 29-year-old 31st seed prevail against Rybakina.

Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina, 21, has yet to drop a set in the tournament but while she probably had little to do to survive her three opening matches, ousting Williams 6-3 7-5 surprised many.

But while Rybakina will have her day before long, she may have to give better to her higher-ranked opponent in the last eight.

Tamara Zidansek v Paula Badosa

Tamara Zidansek came in for early support to prosper against Paula Badosa and that's no great surprise considering she lowered Sorana Cirstea's colours in the last 16. Cirstea was fired up and that has to rank as a fine result for the Slovene.

Zidansek is taking on an opponent who has never played better in her career. Under the tutelage of coach Javier Marti, Badosa has blossomed into a Grand Slam title contender within a couple of years.

She's also found the winning habit and that spirit could assist her should a set go long and maybe end in a tiebreak.

Unsurprisingly, the oddsmakers have the vast majority of markets sewn up and the best option is to chance the favourite to make light of a handicap concession of 3.5 games.

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