American World No. 14 Tommy Paul is featuring in the third round of the French Open for the first time, but he may struggle with clay-court specialist Francisco Cerundolo looking a difficult challenge.
Cerundolo dumped out Taylor Fritz in the third round of last season’s French Open and the Argentinian could send another American packing at the same stage in the shape of Paul.
This all-seeded affair has the potential to be one of the matches of the round, especially if their past meetings are anything to go by.
All five previous encounters between Cerundolo and Paul have gone to a deciding set and both players look in ominous form following two straight-set victories in Paris.
World number 27 Cerundolo has eased past Yannick Hanfmann and Filip Misolic while Paul has swatted aside Pedro Cachin and Fabio Fognini, dropping a total of only nine games.
However, Paul can expect a much stiffer test from Cerundolo, who simply thrives on the slower terrain.
This is set to be the sixth career meeting between these players and so far Cerundolo holds a narrow 3-2 advantage, having taken a lead in their personal series with a 6-7 6-4 6-2 victory in Madrid last month.
That was played on clay and Cerundolo showed his class as he came from a set down before running out a pretty convincing winner.
These are his optimal conditions whereas Paul, who was an Australian Open semifinalist last year, is at his best on a speedier court.
The American is featuring in the third round of the French Open for the first time at the sixth attempt and none of his five ATP Tour career final appearances have come on clay.
That is not to say Paul can’t win but it is open to debate whether he should be favored against a player that relishes these conditions.
Cerundolo has made three ATP Tour finals on clay and enjoyed a run to the fourth round of the French Open last season, beating Fritz in round three before losing in an epic five-setter to Holger Rune.
The Argentinian is capable of building on that in time and there was a lot to like about his quarterfinal run in Madrid, where he toppled Paul and Alexander Zverev before losing in three sets to Fritz.
Interestingly, these met with silverware on the line on the grass of Eastbourne in July and it was Cerundolo who triumphed 6-4 1-6 6-4, showing he can also handle himself in the pressured moments.
That does mean, however, that both players have won a set in all five meetings between the two, which suggests this could be a lengthy battle.
With that in mind, backing Cerundolo to prevail but both players to win a set at +187 could represent the best value in this contest. That may also mean that bettors may want to consider a wager on going Over the Total Games Line.
Given the fact that all five previous meetings between this pair have gone the distance, there is the potential for a marathon match and an interest in a five-set contest must, therefore, appeal.
At last season’s French Open, Cerundolo went to five sets in his fourth-round clash with Rune, having earlier edged past Paul’s compatriot Fritz in four.
Cerundolo won the only previous clay-court meeting between the two, which came in Madrid last month, and he is +500 to win 3-2.
However, backing a five-set contest at +200 could be the safer approach as the deciding set could be anyone’s, with fitness and conditioning then likely to play a part.
Francisco Cerundolo | +110 |
Tommy Paul | -138 |
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.