French Open: Day 7 Preview and Picks
By RICKY DIMON
(14) IVAN LJUBICIC (-150) VS. (24) THOMAZ BELLUCCI (+110)
Both players got through the second round in five sets. Bellucci, however, needed less than three and a half hours and the majority of that time was Thursday. Ljubicic, on the other hand, needed four hours and 38 minutes and a good portion of that battle was waged Friday.
Furthermore, Ljubicic is 31 years old and Bellucci is 22 so you know which man is going to be the spryer of the two on Friday. Even if all things were equal, Bellucci on clay should always have the edge over Ljubicic.
Pick: Bellucci in four sets
PARLAY: (12) MARIA SHARAPOVA (+225) VS. (22) JUSTINE HENIN (-350) and (19) NICOLAS ALMAGRO (-350) VS. OLEKSANDR DOLGOPOLOV JR. (+225)
When the women’s draw came out, everyone was salivating over the potential third-round showdown between Sharapova and Henin. Unfortunately, it’s not going amount to much. Henin is in better form than Sharapova on any surface right now and clay is the Belgian’s best surface and the Russian’s worst.
Dolgopolov beat Fernando Gonzalez in round two, but Gonzo has been hurt and Dolgopolov has never been anywhere near the third round of a Grand Slam before. He is going to be out of his league against Almagro, who is an absolute clay-court wizard.
Pick: Henin in two sets and Almagro in three sets
(18) SHAHAR PEER (-200) VS. (13) MARION BARTOLI (+150)
Peer has been a sentimental favorite ever since being denied a visa into Dubai last year, but she will not have the crowd behind her in this one. Bartoli is one of France’s few hopes to do some serious damage this fortnight and she has been doing it so far with two straight-set victories.
Bartoli has won only two of eight lifetime meetings against Peer, but she has won two of their last three including their most recent one in 2009. Even on clay, which favors the Israeli, Bartoli has the power to overwhelm Peer and getting her at +150 is a steal.
Pick: Bartoli in three sets
(16) YANINA WICKMAYER (-150) VS. (23) DANIELA HANTUCHOVA (+110)
Wickmayer has been making more headlines over the past year (and not just because of her doping scandal) than Hantuchova, but the Russian is looking good so far at the French Open. She cruised through her first two rounds, while Wickmayer needed more than two and a half hours to get past Sybille Bammer 7-5 in the third set Thursday.
The Belgian does not have a day off to recover because of the rain delays, so she might not be at 100 percent. Even at 100 percent, this match would be pretty much a toss-up.
Pick: Hantuchova in three sets