Friday’s French Open Betting Tips: Kotov and Badosa can give big guns a game

The early stages of the French Open have been severely disrupted by the rain and, although that has caused havoc to the tournament schedule, day five is still set to see the beginning of the third round.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev are some of the heavy hitters set to be involved from the men’s draw while Aryna Sabalenka and Cori Gauff, the women’s world number two and three respectively, are also due to take to the court. Below you can find Friday's French Open tips. 

Pavel Kotov +8.5 games on the handicap v Jannik Sinner @ 1/1 

Sinner landed his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January and he has made a strong start to his French Open adventure, recording straight-set successes over Christopher Eubanks and Richard Gasquet.

Another routine win could follow for Sinner against Pavel Kotov, although the Russian shouldn’t be taken lightly and is capable of offering some stiff resistance.

Kotov has showcased his clay-court credentials in the opening two rounds, producing a five-set win over British number one Cameron Norrie before overcoming 2015 French Open champion Stan Wawrinka in four.

Eubanks and Gasquet both kept within eight games of Sinner despite losing 3-0 and Kotov, arguably a stronger clay-court player at this stage of his career, should be able to do similar.

The Russian made a clay-court semi-final in Marrakech at the start of April and he was also a quarter-finalist in Lyon in the build up to Paris, whereas Sinner had his preparation disrupted by injury.

Paula Badosa +1.5 sets on the handicap v Aryna Sabalenka @ 6/4

Sabalenka is considered to be Iga Swiatek’s chief French Open title threat and it is easy to see why given the manner of her opening two wins over Erika Andreeva and Moyuka Uchijima.

The world number two dropped a total of only seven games across those two matches, but a third-round showdown with Paula Badosa should be more informative for punters.

Sabalenka has the ability to power her opponents off the court but that could be tough to do against the resurgent Badosa, who has impressed in three-set wins over Katie Boulter and Yulia Putintseva.

That form looks strong and suggests that Badosa, a former world number two in her own right, can get at least a set on the board.

Seven of Badosa’s last eight matches have gone to a deciding set and that includes against Sabalenka on Stuttgart’s indoor clay in April, while she also pushed world number three Gauff the distance in Rome prior to Paris.

Cori Gauff -5.5 games on the handicap v Dayana Yastremska @ 4/6

While Sabalenka may be pushed hard in her third-round encounter, it should be plain-sailing for Gauff against Dayana Yastremska.

The American has forced herself into a big four at the top of the women’s game alongside Swiatek, Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina with her success at last season’s US Open and she could have a strong say on the destination of the title at Roland Garros.

Gauff has won her opening two matches in straight sets against Juliana Andreeva and Tamara Zidansek and she should be able to do similar against Yastremska.

These two met in Madrid at the end of April and Gauff eased to a 6-4 6-1 success, suggesting she can make light work of a -5.5-handicap start.