Rafael Nadal in the first round-robin match at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals in London
Rafael Nadal in the first round-robin match at the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals in London | © TENNIS PHOTO NETWORK / Getty Images

Tennis | Roland Garros 2021 | Three to see on Day 3

  • Rafael Nadal [3] v Alexei Popyrin
  • Karolina Pliskova [9] v Donna Vekic
  • Novak Djokovic [1] v Tennys Sandgren

 

PARIS, FRANCE – The top two favourites for the men’s tournament are among those in action on day three at Roland Garros.

 

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Rafael Nadal [3] v Alexei Popyrin H2H & Match Fundamentals

Rafael Nadal [3] v Alexei Popyrin

H2H: Nadal leads 1-0

Roland Garros

Paris, France

Clay (O)

Prize Money: €60,000

3rd match on Philippe-Chatrier (Not before 15:00 BST)

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Rafael Nadal enters his tennis playground in the best form possible having won Rome a couple of weeks ago beating fierce rival Novak Djokovic in the final. Title search number 14 will see him go through some tough challenges as he looks for a record-breaking 21st grand slam title.

As for Alexei Popyrin, he enters tomorrow’s match having given a good account of himself in Madrid where he beat Jan-Lennard Struff and Jannik Sinner before giving Nadal a fairly tough match in the third round. Apart from that though, it’s been a fairly bumpy clay court season for the Australian who can firmly say that this is his worst surface.

Tomorrow Nadal will begin with a tough test against someone who likes to dictate points from inside the baseline and serves big as well as using his forehand to hit aggressive winners.

However Nadal should pass this test fairly comfortably with his defensive skills proving too much for the inconsistent Australian.

Prediction: Nadal in straight sets.

 

Karolina Pliskova [9] v Donna Vekic  H2H & Match Fundamentals

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Karolina Pliskova [9] v Donna Vekic  

H2H: Pliskova leads 3-1

Roland Garros

Paris, France

Clay (O)

Prize Money: €60,000

4th match on Suzanne-Lenglen (16:30 BST)

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Despite only winning 13 points in the last match she played against Iga Swiatek, Karolina Pliskova enters the second grand slam of the year in good form having reached the final in Rome. Wins over Jelena Ostapenko and Petra Martic give Pliskova the belief that she can go deep in a slam that she’s done well in the past.

For Donna Vekic, it hasn’t been the season she expected to have after having knee surgery just when she started to get momentum back on her side by reaching the second week at the Australian Open. It’s tough to know what to expect from the Croatian as this is the first tournament back but in the last couple of years she has performed well on clay, reaching the fourth round in 2019.

In terms of styles, it will be Pliskova’s serve and power against Vekic’s defensive aggression in a match that is sure to entertain. However Pliskova’s recent grit and ability to grind out results should see her over the line here.

Prediction: Pliskova in three sets.

 

 

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Novak Djokovic [1] v Tennys Sandgren H2H & Match Fundamentals

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Novak Djokovic [1] v Tennys Sandgren

H2H: Djokovic leads 3-0

Roland Garros

Paris, France

Clay (O)

Prize Money: €60,000

4th match on Philippe-Chatrier (Not before 20:00 BST)

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Novak Djokovic heads to Roland Garros in good form having won his second title of the season in front of his home fans in Belgrade. Even if it wasn’t against the toughest of opposition, it showed that he is consistently in good shape having had a great week in Rome.

As for Tennys Sandgren, one win on the clay doesn’t exactly inspire confidence as he has only won three matches all season. The past has shown that he can trouble the top players although clay isn’t exactly his strongest surface to do that on.

The world number one should prove too good and with no crowd to wind him up, he should be concentrated enough to beat a beatable opponent as he sets his sights on a quarter-final date with Roger Federer.

Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets

 

 

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