Daily match picks

Second round

Ramos (2.24) v Moutet (1.79)

Due to start around 2 pm

This will be their first meeting.

Overall results in the last year favour Moutet. He has also been better on clay. Ramos has the better clay career record but has won just 1 of his last 10 on what is his favourite surface.

Moutet’s recent form on clay has been better. He beat Tiafoe in the last round. Tiafoe had played the final of the Parma Challenger tournament on Monday. The sets were close. their first set went to a tie break but Tiafoe collided with one of the players’ seats and took a long “toilet” break before the tie break. Moutet won the tie break 7-0 and went an early break ahead in the second set. Tiafoe fought back but Moutet won in 2 sets.

Ramos won his first match since the tour resumed at the French Open. He beat Mannarino in straight sets. As he is the fourth seed this week he had a BYE into the second round.

Ramos should keep the match close but I am going with Moutet to win. Back him around 2.10 to 2.20. Lay the set 1 winner.

 

Djokovic (2.26) v Nadal (1.78)

Due to start at 2 pm

Djokovic leads their previous matches 29-26. Their most recent match was in the ATP Cup in Australia in January. Djokovic won on a hard court in straight sets. Nadal has won all 3 of their clay matches in the last 4 seasons. Djokovic last beat him on clay in Rome 2016. He won in 2 sets. Nadal leads their French Open matches 6-1.

Overall results in the last year favour Djokovic. They both have excellent clay records and have both been beaten once in the last year on clay.

Djokovic has only lost sets in the last 2 rounds. Carreno Busta took their opening set in the quarter final after Djokovic had a medical time out for treatment on his neck. Tsitsipas came back from 2 sets down to take it to a 5th set in the semi final. Djokovic came through that match as he played the big points better and made better decisions that Tsitsipas.

Nadal has not lost a set in the tournament. If Nadal wins today he draws level with Federer on 20 grand slam titles. He has never been beaten in the French Open final. This is his 13th final at Roland Garros.

Stats for the tournament all favour Nadal. He has converted a massive 79% of break points! (Djokovic converted 53%of his).

Back Nadal around 2.10 or you can wait for him to face break point before backing him. Lay the set 1 winner. Nadal to win in 4.