Paula Badosa in the first round of the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open, Spain
Paula Badosa in the first round of the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open, Spain | (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)

Tennis | Roland Garros 2022 | Tsonga’s farewell and Tsitsipas’ maiden slam bid headline day three

By Tony Fairbairn

  • Casper Ruud [8] v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [WC]
  • Stefanos Tsitsipas [4] v Lorenzo Musetti
  • Paula Badosa [3] v Fiona Ferro [WC]
PARIS, FRANCE – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s potential tennis farewell and Stefanos Tsitsipas starting his bid for a maiden grand slam headline day three of Roland Garros.

 

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Casper Ruud [8] v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [WC] H2H & Match Fundamentals

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Casper Ruud [8] v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [WC] H2H: First meeting
Roland Garros 2022 Paris, France
Clay (O) Prize Money: €60,000
Second on Philippe-Chatrier (11:30 BST) Discovery+ Add-on via Amazon Prime

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Casper Ruud hasn’t had as good of a clay season as he would have liked however the Norwegian played some good tennis in Rome and heads into Paris having won the Geneva title. Ruud is capable of challenging the very best on this surface but his precise shot-making and power has also made him effective on other surfaces having reached the final in Miami. Now the eighth seed will look for a grand slam breakthrough on his preferred surface as he looks to go deep in Paris.

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However it will not be an easy opening match for Ruud as he takes on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in what is expected to be an emotionally-charged match for the Frenchman. Tsonga’s tennis career will end after Roland Garros and the Frenchman will want to end his career on a high and there is no better way to do than on Philippe-Chatrier where he has had some of the best and worst moments of his career. Can Tsonga give his beloved French crowd one final dance and score another memorable victory?

This will be a tough match for Tsonga but if anyone is capable of achieving the victory it is him as resilience and defying the odds has been part of his career. Ruud’s form should be too strong here though as Tsonga’s farewell should be an emotional one in front of his home fans in Paris.

Prediction: Ruud in four sets.

 

Stefanos Tsitsipas [4] v Lorenzo Musetti  H2H & Match Fundamentals

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Stefanos Tsitsipas [4] v Lorenzo Musetti H2H: Tsitsipas leads 2-0
Roland Garros 2022 Paris, France
Clay (O) Prize Money: €60,000
Fourth on Philippe-Chatrier (20:45 BST) Discovery+ Add-on via Amazon Prime

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It was this time last year that Stefanos Tsitsipas was one set away from winning his maiden grand slam before Novak Djokovic came back to win in five sets and the Greek’s hopes. Now Tsitsipas enters with a favourable draw and some form on his side as he aims to win his first grand slam title. There is no doubting that the fourth seed has the potential, talent and intelligence but its whether he can find mental steel at the right times to finally make  his grand slam breakthrough.

Despite a favourable draw, Tsitsipas has a tough opening round as he takes on Lorenzo Musetti. The Italian also took Djokovic all the way at last year’s Roland Garros and has all the ability to be a threat on clay. Musetti’s one handed backhand as well as smart serving means that the Italian can outhit and outsmart anyone on this surface but the question remains whether he can do it in a best of five set format.

Tsitsipas should be given a very stern test early on with Musetti’s game style always looking to cause the Greek problems. However Tsitsipas’ stamina should be too much for the Italian and the Greek should edge into the second round by playing the long game.

Prediction: Tsitsipas in five sets.

 

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Paula Badosa [3] v Fiona Ferro [WC]   H2H & Match Fundamentals

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Paula Badosa [3] v Fiona Ferro [WC] H2H: Badosa leads 1-0
Roland Garros 2022 Paris, France
Clay (O) Prize Money: €60,000
Third on Philippe-Chatrier (14:00 BST) Discovery+ Add-on via Amazon Prime

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Paula Badosa would have liked better results on the clay court swing than she had after failing to win back-to-back matches in both Madrid and Rome. However the Spaniard knows that a really good result at Roland Garros has the potential to change her whole season around and will hope that she is the nearest challenger to Iga Swiatek over the next couple of weeks.

First up for Badosa is French wildcard and big hitter Fiona Ferro who has been impacted by injuries and lack of consistency. The Frenchwoman has only won back-to-back matches at one event this season and has mainly been playing on the ITF or challenger circuit. However on her day Ferro can outhit anyone on the tour and will look to capitalise on the French crowd to play her best level.

This has the potential to be a tricky afternoon for the Spaniard if she isn’t playing her best tennis and Ferro is motivated as well hitting in her range. However Badosa’s consistency and defensive grit should be enough to see her through even if Ferro has a red-hot 20 minute spell in the match.

Prediction: Badosa in three sets.

 

 

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