Ricky Dimon
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Rafael Nadal is out of the French Open – likely for the last time – but the show goes on at Roland Garros. First-round action wraps up on Tuesday, when Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will be among those taking the court. Let’s take a look at the French Open best bets to be made on the Day 3 schedule. We are currently 3-3 through the first 2 days of the tournament, so let’s build some momentum and have ourselves a big day on the clay!
Angelique Kerber -2.5 games over Arantxa Rus (-125)
Understandably, Angelique Kerber is not in peak form at 36 years old as she comes back to tennis following the birth of her first child. Still, this is a player who has won 3 Grand Slam titles. She can never be written off – especially not on the sport’s biggest stages, where she has thrived throughout her career. Kerber’s comeback is actually going pretty well, too, headlined by 4th-round performances in both Indian Wells and Rome. The German won her first 3 Rome matches in straight sets before losing to world #1 Iga Swiatek in respectable 7-5, 6-3 fashion. Up first for her in Paris is Arantxa Rus, who owns a 12-16 match record in 2024 – including 5-7 on clay. Even a lesser version of the major-winning Kerber should be able to win this one with relative ease.
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Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard ML over David Goffin (-125)
It’s never easy when you put in a big effort the week before a Grand Slam and have to make a quick turnaround. On the bright side, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is young (20 years old) and his style of play is such that he can keep points short with his huge serve and generally doesn’t have to play a ton of long rallies. Playing on the final day of the first round also gives him 2 full days off since he captured his first-ever ATP title on the red clay of Lyon.
Clearly establishing himself as one of France’s next promising youngsters, Mpetshi Perricard should get massive crowd support at Roland Garros. His only previous meeting with David Goffin came when it was the Belgian who had home-court advantage, but Mpetshi Perricard still cruised 7-5, 6-3 last season on the indoor hard courts of the Antwerp Challenger. Now 33, Goffin is struggling down at #115 in the rankings. Another win for Mpetshi Perricard should be in the cards.
Parlay: Taylor Fritz -1.5 sets over Federico Coria and Jan-Lennard Struff -1.5 sets over Roman Andres Burruchaga (-117)
Even on clay, Taylor Fritz should have no trouble with Federico Coria. On any other surface, the Argentine probably wouldn’t win more than a few games; on clay, I doubt he will win more than 1 set – and he likely won’t win any. Fritz is the far superior player in general and has become comfortable on clay, too. The 12th-ranked American’s spring already includes a runner-up performance in Munich, a semifinal run in Madrid and a quarterfinal showing in Rome.
Speaking of big hitters who are good on clay, Jan-Lennard Struff also qualifies. The German is the man who beat Fritz in the recent Munich title match and he also finished runner-up last season in Madrid. Struff is playing great and loves this surface, so he can be expected to make quick work of Roman Andres Burruchaga. The qualifier from Argentina, whose dad scored the game-winning goal in the 1986 World Cup final, is ranked #144 and has won just a single match on the main tour in his entire career.
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