French Open Day 5 Picks 2013 (May 30th)

The schedulers at the French Open would have been very happy to see the rain clouds disappear for one day as they managed to get the draw back up to the spot it should be, although this could be a small reprieve for them.

Thursday is supposed to be very wet throughout the day and I would be very surprised if the day is not broken up and that many matches are going to be pushed forward to Friday. Talking about Friday, I am flying to Paris tomorrow morning and will be attending Roland Garros for the first time on Friday and a part of me wouldn't be too bothered if Thursday is mostly a write off so there is plenty of action to enjoy when I do go.

The forecast for Friday is up and down at the moment, but there does seem to be a large enough window to think I will be able to enjoy enough tennis to make it worthwhile and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will see some decent matches.


Early stages of a Grand Slam can sometimes be very predictable and can lack the drama that we will surely see later in the week, but there have been some impressive performances and the matches between Gael Monfils and Tomas Berdych/Ernests Gulbis were both fascinating and really good to watch.

Most of the big names, barring Berdych, have gone through fairly comfortably and that can only mean we will see some top matches as the tournament progresses.


The picks also took a turn for the better on Day 4, although I can't help but feel a little more luck and a break here and there (pardon the pun) would have had the picks in a much stronger shape at this stage of the tournament. Still, I am not going to be greedy and getting back into the black is a positive to take forward into Day 5.


Alize Cornet - 3.5 games v Silvia Soler-Espinosa: The home crowd should provide the support that will help Alize Cornet into the Third Round here at Roland Garros, although it will be tough against a clay court specialist like Silvia Soler-Espinosa.

After winning in Strasbourg last week, Cornet would have had plenty of confidence coming into this tournament, while her opponent had lost a lot of matches recently. Soler-Espinosa took care of a good First Round match for her, but the quality of opponent has certainly gone up in this one and it may be too much for the Spaniard to do.

If Cornet can get her nose in front, I would fancy her to win this one with a little room to spare and I think the Frenchwoman is going to come through 64 63.


Victor Hanescu - 2.5 games v Dmitry Tursunov: It has been a surprising season for Dmitry Tursunov, especially on the clay courts where he hasn't shown much form in his career prior to 2013. The Russian put together one of the bigger surprises in the First Round as he beat Alexandr Dolgopolov in straight sets, but he may not be able to get through this Second Round match.

Victor Hanescu was a comfortable winner in the First Round as his opponent was forced to retire, but the clay courts remain his best surface and I do think he will be confident of his chances of seeing of Tursunov.

The first set could be key as it is very likely to end up in a tie-break with both players relying on a decent serve compared to their return games. If Hanescu can take that and get in front, it will be a long road back for Tursunov and I like the Romanian to win this one in four sets.


Fernando Verdasco - 1.5 sets v Janko Tipsarevic: Fernando Verdasco is playing about as good as he has all season at the moment and I think he is going to be too strong for Janko Tipsarevic who has been struggling.

The clay courts should also be to the favour of the Spaniard in this one and I think he will be able to come through this test fairly comfortably if Verdasco does take the first set.

Both players will be under pressure on serve, especially early in the match, but Verdasco has shown a little more consistency on the court of late and I just have a feeling he is going to go fairly deep here at Roland Garros. There is every chance this could go four sets, but I would expect the Spaniard to come through with a little room to spare.


Tommy Haas - 7.5 games v Jack Sock: There are some big hopes in America that Jack Sock could make a real breakthrough on the ATP Tour, but the clay courts are always going to be his biggest weakness, one that I expect Tommy Haas to expose in this Second Round match.

Haas is comfortable on the slower courts and he showed he is still capable of dealing with his younger opponents when he brushed aside home hope Guillaumo Rufin in the First Round.

With the lack of experience that Sock has on the clay courts, I would think Haas can come through in straight sets and he should be able to put together a 64, 62, 64 win.


MY PICKS: Alize Cornet - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Victor Hanescu - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Fernando Verdasco - 1.5 Sets @ 2.40 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Tommy Haas - 7.5 Games @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)

French Open Update: 6-5, + 1.56 Units (20 Units Staked, + 7.8% Yield)