ROLAND GARROS 2017 RICKY’S PREVIEW AND PICKS FOR DAY 5 AT THE FRENCH OPEN TENNIS

Written by: Staff on 31st May 2017

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

ROLAND GARROS 2017 RICKY'S PREVIEW AND PICKS FOR DAY 5 AT THE FRENCH OPEN TENNIS

epaselect epa06000127 People watching tennis on screens during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 30 May 2017. EPA/YOAN VALAT |

Ricky’s preview and picks for Day 5 at the French Open, including Murray vs. Klizan and Del Potro vs. Almagro

By Ricky Dimon

Second-round action at the French Open will conclude on Thursday, with world No. 1 Andy Murray taking the court again–this time against dangerous left-hander Martin Klizan. Juan Martin Del Potro, meanwhile, will continue his campaign against Nicolas Almagro.

Ricky previews three of the best Day 5 matchups and makes his predictions.

(1) Andy Murray vs. Martin Klizan

Murray and Klizan will be squaring for the second time in their careers when they clash in round two at Roland Garros on Thursday. Their only previous meeting came this past fall in Vienna, where Murray got the job done 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-0. Klizan is no stranger to such roller-coaster rides and he battled through another one on Tuesday, when he controversially outlasted Laurent Lokoli 7-6(4), 6-3, 4-6, 0-6, 6-4. Lokoli offered no handshake following what was Klizan’s fifth win in his last three clay-court events. The Slovak is a mediocre 11-13 this season, but he has at least managed to pick up the pace somewhat since starting 1-4.

Murray’s opener featured a less significant mid-match wobble, as the top-seeded Scot eventually cruised past Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. The last two sets and certainly the overall triumph were much-needed, and not just because Murray is defending runner-up points from last spring. This year has been a mighty struggle, as Murray is saddled with a mere 17-7 and an even 5-5 in his last 10 matches since lifting the Dubai trophy back in February. In his last two matches combined against Borna Coric and Fabio Fognini heading into Roland Garros, Murray earned a total of 12 games–and lost 24 in his two straight-set setbacks. Clay gives Klizan a real chances of extending Murray’s woes; perhaps even more than a chance.

Pick: Klizan in 5

Nicolas Almagro vs. (29) Juan Martin Del Potro

Neither a lack of form nor injuries have been real issues for Del Potro this season, but his 2017 campaign has been an abbreviated one due to precautionary rest and the recent death of his grandfather. Difficult early-round draws have also put a dent in the Argentine’s progress, as he is ranked lower (30th) than his current level would suggest. Still, Del Potro is a respectable 12-6 this year and he produced a stellar performance the whole way while defeating compatriot Guido Pella 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 during first-round French Open action.

Up next for the former world No. 4 is a fourth career ATP-level meeting with Almagro, who is 0-3 in the head-to-head series and 0-6 in total sets. Del Potro beat Almagro twice in 2013 and most recently got the job done 6-4, 6-3 at the indoor event in Stockholm this past fall. Almagro leveled his 2017 record at 9-9 when he beat Marcos Baghdatis 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(1) on Tuesday. The Spanish veteran is always a force to be reckoned with on clay, but nothing about his current form suggests he is ready to reverse the trend of his past struggles against Del Potro.

Pick: Del Potro in 3

(3) Stan Wawrinka vs. Alexandr Dolgopolov

Wawrinka and Dolgopolov will be facing each other for the fourth time on Thursday. Dolgopolov is leading the head-to-head series 2-1, with victories in 2011 (Acapulco) and 2014 (Miami). Wawrinka’s lone success came via a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 decision at the U.S. Open in 2012.

Neither player had much trouble advancing on Tuesday. Wawrinka improved to 21-8 this year and 5-0 in his last five matches by beating qualifier Jozef Kovalik 6-2, 7-6(6), 6-3. Thus continues a brief hot streak for the Swiss, who dropped three of his first five clay-court matches before winning last week’s Geneva title. Dolgopolov booked his spot in the French Open second round by dismissing Carlos Berlocq 7-5, 6-3, 6-4. The world No. 89 is still just 10-9 this season, but that record includes a title on the clay of Buenos Aires and a quarterfinal showing one week later in Rio de Janeiro. Dolgopolov is always a question mark from a physical standpoint and Wawrinka is a former champion of this tourmament (2015), so all signs point to a victory for the world No. 3.

Pick: Wawrinka in 3