French Open Betting / Ben Caudell / 30 May 2009 /

Ben Caudell believes that with the home crowd behind them, two French players have what it takes to make the fourth round at Roland Garros...

Andy Murray made it through to the fourth round of the French Open for the first time after Janko Tipsarevic retired due to a hip injury at the start of the third set. Murray had fought back from a 2-5 deficit in the first before taking the set 7-6. He then routinely took the second 6-3 before Tipsarevic's retirement meaning that our bets on Over 35.5 Games and more than Three Sets were voided. We were, however, successful in predicting Venus William's loss to Agnes Szavay, Laying 2-0 Williams at [1.94]. Szavay will now meet Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round - she leads their head-to-head series 3-0 so expect nothing less than a quarter final appearance from the Hungarian.

Today's Selections:

Christophe Rochus (BEL) v Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA)
I have never been a big fan of the older Rochus brother (Olivier being the younger). For me, he has always been a player to back against, except when he plays Konstantinos Economidis - the knowledgeable will know what I'm talking about here - Rochus had been playing regularly on the Challenger Circuit in 2008 but has strung together a few decent results in 2009 and is now back into the top 100 in the world. Ranked 64, he has managed to reach the third round of the French Open for the first time defeating two French veterans in Arnaud Clement and Fabrice Santorro on his way. Tsonga has proved a few doubters including myself wrong this week on his least favoured surface. Not only has he defeated one of the best clay court players in the world, Juan Monaco, he is also showing the same characteristics that catapulted him into the final of the Australian Open two years ago. With the home crowed in a raucous mood whenever a home player takes to the court and the fact that Rochus struggles against power players, expect nothing less than a Tsonga win.

Selection: Back Tsonga to win 3-0 @ [2.0] Back Tsonga -5.5 Games @ [1.5]

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Gael Monfils (FRA)
The last time these two played each other was at last year's French Open when Monfils won in five sets. Melzer's occasional erratic and destructible temperament on the tour and his at times flagging commitment has been questioned many times by tennis punters. However, when it comes to Grand Slam events, the Austrian seems to rise to the occasion, often fighting till the very end. Monfils reached the semi-finals of the French Open in 2008 eventually losing to Roger Federer, his performances of late have left much to be desired, losing to Janko Tipsarevic in Monte Carlo, Andy Roddick in Miami and John Isner in Indian Wells. Monfils has a decent record against lefties 8-2 so with this in mind and with this match being played in Monfils back yard, he should have just enough to see this through.

Selection: Back Gael Monfils -4.5 Games @ [2.0]

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