French Open day 10: Five tips from final fourth round fixtures

Two players who are yet to drop a set do battle as firm men’s singles favourite and Serbia racket star Djokovic clashes with Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.

It won’t surprise punters to learn Djokovic has won all four past encounters with the Spanish number three, but what does raise an eyebrow is he didn’t defeat Bautista Agut in straight sets when last paired together at a Grand Slam.

Having troubled the Serb at Flushing Meadows last year, a terrific 3/1 price for Djokovic to repeat a 3-1 win, with Bautista Agut nicking a set, thus appeals.

Brilliant Bertens should see run continue

Kiki Bertens has been delighting punters throughout her three fine wins at Roland Garros so far. Having stunned Australian Open champ and third seed Angelique Kerber, she also eliminated Russia teenager Daria Kasatkina in three sets.

Bertens now faces 15th seed Madison Keys for the first time, and the Dutchwoman is well worth taking again at 13/8 to eliminate the American. Although her progress through the French Open early rounds has been pretty straightforward, Keys has plenty to do to justify being odds-on.

There is a battling quality to Bertens, who has beaten better players during her magnificent run, with Keys putting in her best-ever display at the clay Grand Slam to date here.

Ferrer comes through Berdych battle in four

Highest-ranked Spaniard still standing Ferrer holds a 7-6 head-to-head advantage over last 16 foe Tomas Berdych from the Czech Republic.

Losing just one set at this year’s French Open so far and that on a tiebreak, Ferrer faces a fellow top seed for the first time here.

Because Berdych has dropped sets in rounds two and three en route to this 14th career meeting, it is worth taking Ferrer to reverse the result from their last Grand Slam encounter. A superb 7/2 price says Ferrer will thwart Berdych by winning 3-1.

Venus to beat Bacsinszky in straight sets

A Williams sister being odds against to win? No, it’s not a misprint, but elder sibling Venus is rated a tasty 10/3 to knock out women’s eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky in straight sets.

The Swiss player has lost both her previous meetings with the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, including at the 2014 US Open.

Venus may be no spring chicken, but she’s on course to make her first French Open quarter-final in a decade. Back all those years of experience to shine through and send Bacsinszky home without so much as a set.

Gulbis grabs first set of Goffin game

What a reprieve Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis got when home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired injured when leading their third round fixture 5-2 in the first set!

By contrast, last 16 opponent David Goffin of Belgium came through in five sets against Nicolas Almagro and those exertions may have taken their toll.

While it is bold to back Gulbis to beat the men’s 12th seed, there is a lot to like about the 6/5 price for an opening set victory. Goffin has lost both first sets against this foe from two previous battles.

Related

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