French Open last 16: Tsonga battles Berdych, Nishikori in action

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has never been beyond the semi-final of his home Grand Slam, the French Open, and he faces a real fight to even make the second week at Roland Garros this year.

Fourth seed Tomas Berdych, a former Wimbeldon finalist and 22/1 chance with Coral to win his first major honour in tennis here, beat one of France’s best players of recent times in straight sets on a clay court surface as recently as the Madrid Masters.

Odds-on at 4/11 to win his tussle with Tsonga, top Czech ace Berdych has hardly made plain sailing of the Frech Open’s early rounds. It’s taken him four sets to dispatch compatriot Radek Stepanek and the same against Benoit Paire, another Frenchman.

Tsonga, meanwhile, dropped just 11 games in his first couple of matches at Roland Garros, before being taken to an opening set tiebreak by Spaniard Pablo Andijar, en route to another straight sets win in round three. He does have a couple of victories over Berdych, though none on clay.

It’s difficult to know what to make of Tsonga’s 2/1 price to beat Berdych with both men reaching the end of their prime. Given his form in previous French Open rounds, an astute bet could well be backing Berdych in four sets at 11/4.

Punters may also want to take 13/8 on Tsonga winning the second, as his Czech opponent has dropped this in his last two Roland Garros outings on a tiebreak (odds of 3/1 for set two to go the distance).