French Open day 5: Five Thursday tips from second round fixtures

After dropping just two games against Magdalena Rybarikova in the first round, defending women’s champion Williams now takes on Brazil’s Teliana Pereira, who only scraped past Kristyna Pliskova 9-7 in the decider.

American great Williams will be by far the fresher player and so is 5/2 to claim the opening set 6-1.

Brit Bedene to beat Carreno Busta

British stars have tumbled out this French Open, but a couple still remain and Slovenian-born Aljaz Bedene has a great chance of making it to the third round as he takes on Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

The duo have a victory apiece against the other, both on clay, and Bedene won the most recent clash, so is 5/2 to topple him once more.

Bouchard to defeat Bacsinszky

Canadian Bouchard may have slipped down the rankings in recent months, but clearly has talent and upset higher-ranked Laura Siegemund in the first round.

The 22-year-old is a former Grand Slam finalist, and reached the semis here in 2014, so is a great 6/4 price to defeat Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky.

Verdasco to win a set, but lose to Nishikori

It might be a surprise to know that Spaniard Fernando Verdasco has won two of his three head-to-heads with Japan top 10 star Kei Nishikori, including once on clay – albeit after his opponent retired trailing 4-2.

Nishikori is too great a form to lose out again, though, so back the big-hitting left-hander to succumb to his younger opponent 3-1 at 5/2.

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Be sure to visit Coral’s tennis page throughout the French Open and Wimbledon for more tips and previews.