French Open Betting Tips: Zverev set for straight-sets cruise

Saturday’s French Open card features the conclusion of the Men’s and Women’s third round with big names like Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Aryna Sabalenka in action.

Former champion Djokovic arguably has the toughest test of that trio as he faces Italian clay-court specialist Lorenzo Musetti, who beat him in Monte Carlo last year, and that match features in my French Open betting tips for Saturday, June 1.

French Open Betting Odds

Alexander Zverev to beat Tallon Griekspoor 3-0 @ 9/10

Zverev has so far confirmed his status as one of the main contenders for the men’s title with dismissive victories over two very successful clay-courters in the autumn of their careers.

His 6-3 7-6 6-3 win over Rafael Nadal in round one was a psychological test as the King of Clay had won their previous two clashes on his favourite surface, but the German came through it with flying colours.

He then beat former top-10 player David Goffin in short order, winning 7-6 6-2 6-2, with Zverev’s younger legs making the difference once the Belgian began to run out of gas himself.

Round three opponent Griekspoor’s sole win over Zverev in their four previous meetings came indoors in Rotterdam, which is the Dutchman’s backyard.

The conditions they will face on Saturday in Paris will be totally different with the potential for the moderate breeze to knock Griekspoor out of his serving rhythm.

The 27-year-old squeezed past Mackenzie McDonald in the first round, despite a lowly 56% first-serve percentage and winning only 57% of points on his first serve.

Inconsistency like that will be punished by Zverev who can clock up another three-set victory in this clash, having not dropped a set in either of their last two meetings on hard courts.

Lorenzo Musetti +6.5 handicap vs Novak Djokovic @ 4/5

Musetti is a big underdog in this match, but he upset Djokovic on clay last year in Monte Carlo and is capable of capitalising if the Serbian has an off day.

The No.30 seed overcame the challenge of facing home favourite Gael Monfils under the lights on Court Phillipe-Chatrier on Thursday night and will not be overawed by the occasion here either.

Djokovic admitted he is struggling with aspects of his game in the wake of some worrisome results in warm-up events, such as his early exit in Rome to world number 32 Alejandro Tabilo and Geneva Open loss to 44th-ranked Tomas Machac.

His big-match temperament may pull him through, but it could be close and it is worth staying on Musetti’s side of the handicap while the legendary Grand Slam champion’s game is in the doldrums.

Over 20.5 games in Paula Badosa vs Aryna Sabalenka @ 10/11

The women’s second seed faces a familiar opponent in round three as she takes on her occasional doubles partner and friend Paula Badosa for a spot in the last 16.

Sabalenka has posted comfortable wins against Erika Andreeva and qualifier Moyuka Uchijima so far, but the standard rises appreciably now as she faces the conqueror of two-time French Open quarter-finalist Yulia Putintseva.

Badosa was the world number two for a time in 2022, but injuries have seen her drop outside the top 100 now. Still, she showed in a recent clash with Sabalenka that she has the game to take out someone of the Belarusian’s calibre.

They were tied at 3-3 in the deciding set when Badosa’s body let her down again, but she showed no signs of weakness in her gruelling three-set win over Putintseva and is in the sort of shape to take this clash to a deciding set too.

Each of their last three clashes on clay have taken more than 21 games to reach their conclusion and that also suggests both players should be ready for the long haul on Saturday.

Tennis Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.