French Open Tips & Preview – Stefanos Tsitsipas V Pablo Carreno Busta

WILL EVANS’ daily preview serves up French Open tips for what shapes as a titanic fourth-round battle between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Pablo Carreno Busta.

History: Played 2: Tsitsipas 2 V Carreno Busta 0

Last meeting: Dubai Tennis Championships, 2020 (R32): Tsitsipas d Carreno Busta 7-6 6-1

Final Thoughts: The French Open schedule heads into the fourth round on Sunday – headlined by a showdown between fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta.

Tsitsipas has progressed to the last 16 without too much trouble. He overwhelmed Jeremy Chardy and Pedro Martinez in straight sets, before putting away big-serving John Isner in four sets after losing the opener.

The 22-year-old lost just one service game in the 5-7, 6-3 7-6 6-1 victory over 31st seed Isner. Tsitsipas, who reached the French Open semis in 2020 and the Australian Open semis this year, is chasing his fourth Grand Slam quarter-final appearance.

It’s been a similarly smooth passage to the fourth round for Carreno Busta. The 29-year-old downed Norbert Gombos in straight sets, Enzo Couacaud in four and disposed of Steve Johnson 6-4 6-4 6-2.

The highlight of Carreno Busta’s otherwise disappointing clay swing was a semi-final run at the Barcelona Open, where he went down to Rafael Nadal.

He is a two-time French Open quarter-finalist. He reached the last eight in Paris in 2017 and ’20 – as well as earning a US Open semi-final berth in both years.

Tsitsipas won both previous clashes between the pair in straight sets. Carreno Busta had no answer in the 2018 Barcelona Open semis and at last year’s Dubai Tennis Championships.

Impressive as he was in snuffing out the challenge of Isner, Tsitsipas needs to lift again here. The gutsy Carreno Busta’s rallying ability presents a whole new test, but Tsitsipas’ aggressive baselining will ultimately carry him through.

Tip: Set Betting – Tsitsipas 3-1 @ $3.60