oddschecker expert Graham Ruthven gives his predictions for the French Open Quarter-Final 2022, including a surprise win for Novak Djokovic.
11:00 Tuesday
There is no shortage of plot lines and stories to follow in both the men’s and women’s singles of the 2022 French Open. Roland Garros has been the scene of some exceptional tennis over the last week and the business end of the tournament is still to come.
Carlos Alcaraz has electrified the French crowd with his run to the quarter-finals while Iga Swiatek has underlined her status as world number one by demolishing every opponent she has faced so far. Now, though, is when champions are made. These are the matches that matter most. Here are three tips for the 2022 French Open quarter-finals.
Novak Djokovic (1) v Rafael Nadal (5)
Nadal is the undisputed King of Roland Garros, but he has pushed himself to the limit merely to make it this far. The Spaniard needed five gruelling and energy-sapping sets to make it past Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fourth round and even raised the prospect in the post-match press conference that this could be his final French Open as he struggles with injury. The physicality of the sport is taking a toll on Nadal.
Against Novak Djokovic, Nadal simply can’t afford as many unforced errors as he made against Auger-Aliassime. Djokovic is too good a returner for Nadal to be so wasteful in both his shot selection and range. The world number one has yet to drop a set at this year’s French Open and is in strong form after good showings at the Madrid and Rome Masters. Djokovic is the only player to have beaten Nadal twice at Roland Garros. He looks in good shape to do it for a third time here.
11:00 Tuesday
Alexander Zverev (3) v Carlos Alcaraz (6)
Only Djokovic is ahead of Alcaraz in the list of favourites to win the 2022 French Open which illustrates the expectation heaped on the shoulders of the 19-year-old. Men’s tennis has a new superstar and it’s only a matter of time before he wins his first Grand Slam title. The clay courts of Roland Garros have allowed Alcaraz to harness his natural power and so his major breakthrough could come this week.
Alexander Zverev, still awaiting his Grand Slam breakthrough, is renowned for his balance, but Alcaraz could beat him at his own game. The teenage Spaniard is lethal off both sides and has struck more winners in 2022 (106) than any other player in the top six. His physicality is intimidating and he seemingly has the mentality to go all the way at a major.
11:00 Tuesday
Coco Gauff (18) v Sloane Stephens
An all-American quarter-final will see Coco Gauff and Sloane Stephens face each other for a place in the final four. The 2022 French Open has been a landmark tournament so far for Gauff who has spent a total of just over four hours on court with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Elise Mertens in the fourth round highlighting the 18-year-old’s ability to go all the way in Paris.
Stephens, of course, is a former Grand Slam winner and Roland Garros finalist and has also found impressive form in the French capital, seeing off Jil Teichmann 6-2, 6-0 in the previous round. This quarter-final match will be an engrossing encounter between two players who boast genuine speed and mobility around the court. It will be played at a fast pace and Gauff should be fresher.
