With two-time defending French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined through injury, the Spanish challenge looks to revolve around up-and-coming youngster Rafael Jodar and he next takes on compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta in his pursuit of a place in the quarter-finals.
It is still extremely early days in the career of 19-year-old Jodar who is featuring in the main draw of just his second Grand Slam and is appearing in the French Open for the first time.
However, already seeded 27th at Roland Garros, Jodar has made huge strides in a short period of time and could be a star of the future.
The Madrid resident takes on more experienced compatriot Carreno Busta in the fourth round, having defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic, James Duckworth and Alex Michelsen in his opening three Paris assignments.
Carreno Busta, a former world number 10 now ranked at world number 89, has enjoyed a resurgence and is chasing a third French Open quarter-final appearance having done so in 2017 and 2020.
The 34-year-old has overcome Jiri Lehecka, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Thiago Agustin Tirante to show the fire still burns inside and he will be hoping to show the younger Spaniard who is boss.
Rafael Jodar v Pablo Carreno Busta Tips Summary
Best Bet - Rafael Jodar -6.5 games on handicap @ 10/11
Alternative Bet - Rafael Jodar to win 3-0 @ 6/4
Bet Builder - Over 0.5 tiebreaks, 10+ aces for Rafael Jodar & 5+ double faults for Rafael Jodar @ 15/4
Rafael Jodar v Pablo Carreno Busta Prediction
Best Bet: Rafael Jodar -6.5 games on handicap @ 10/11
Jodar needed five sets to see off Michelsen in round three but he finished extremely strongly, showing himself to be in peak fitness by winning the final two sets 6-3.
The Spanish teenager is clearly a player of immense potential and there were signs that a deep run could be on the cards in Paris.
Jodar won a clay-court title in Marrakech in April before making the semi-finals in Barcelona and enjoying quarter-final runs in Madrid and Rome.
That means that Jodar has won 18 of his last 21 clay-court matches and, if he can weather the early storm, then he should run out a convincing winner.
Carreno Busta will be looking to call upon his vast experience but the 34-year-old is not the force he once was and can often run out of steam at this stage of a tournament.
The seasoned performer has not gone past this stage of a Grand Slam since the 2020 US Open and the wait may continue.
Alternative Bet: Rafael Jodar to win 3-0 @ 6/4
A fast start for Jodar should see him stamp his authority and he will be buoyed by the fact that he has won the opening set in all three of his French Open victories.
Carreno Busta may need to take the opening set if he is to keep this competitive as Jodar tends to finish his matches strongly given his tender years and is full of confidence following an excellent clay-court campaign.
Twelve of Jodar’s last 18 wins, including his French Open first-round assignment against Kovacevic, have seen him win in routine fashion and he may be able to show why there is such a hype about him.
Rafael Jodar v Pablo Carreno Busta Bet Builder Tip
- Over 0.5 tiebreaks
- 10+ aces for Rafael Jodar
- 5+ double faults for Rafael Jodar
Pays 15/4
Jodar has already showcased his big serve at this year’s French Open and he has racked up 24 aces across his three wins, 13 of which came in his latest scalp of Michelsen.
However, that weapon can contribute to double faults and he made 11 of those in that third-round victory over the American, something Carreno Busta’s excellent defence may hope to exploit.
Jodar has seen at least one tiebreak in the last two rounds against Duckworth and Michelsen and another may follow against Carreno Busta, who has also played two tiebreaks in three outings.
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Key Match Stats
- Jodar has won 18 of his last 21 clay-court matches
- This is just Jodar’s second ever appearance in a Grand Slam
- Carreno Busta is bidding to go past the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2020 US Open
- Twelve of Jodar’s last 18 wins were recorded in straight sets
- Both players have won a set in three of Carreno Busta’s last four matches
- Jodar has won the opening set in all three of his French Open victories
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
