The last four matches of the round of 16 at the French Open is being played today, before we can conclude the quarterfinals. Two-time runner-up Casper Ruud will face a big challenge when he takes on the no 1 American Taylor Fritz in the afternoon.
Fritz has really improved his clay game and looks in great form at the Roland Garros. Some of the highlights this season include a final in Munich, semifinal in Madrid and quarterfinals in the Italian Open a few weeks ago. The seventh seed American has yet to win a straight set win in Paris, but he’s shown great consistency and quality in his game when needed. To reach this round he beat Federico Coria, Dusan Lajovic and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Casper Ruud, already with two titles this clay season (Barcelona and Geneva) is one of the best clay court players in the world and he’s improving all the time when it comes to big important matches.
The Norwegian has managed a fairly tough draw and some challenging matches so far at the Roland Garros, not at least the five setter against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. I can only see him improve from here on in a French capital that is slowly seeing some better weather and sunny days finally.
This will actually be just the second time these two players go up against each other. Ruud took the only game at the ATP Finals back in 2022.
Fritz vs Ruud Predictions: I can see a tough 4- or 5 set match being played out here and I think Casper Ruud will advance to the French Open quarterfinals eventually. Overall he’s a better clay court player and should have enough to see this through. Fritz’s serve will need to be on fire to have a chance here, I can see at least one tie-break being played out.
Best odds;
- Set Betting 2:3 (Ruud) @ 5.50 | +450
- At least on tie-break @ 1.67 | -150
- Over 37.5 Total Games @ 1.75 | -137.5
