French Open 2021: Day 6 Predictions

After an eventful day 5 which saw some shockers and heated arguments, Sportco provides predictions for day 6 with some mouth-watering third-round clashes and high-octane battles lined up in the French Open 2021.

1) Casper Ruud vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Ruud leads the head-to-head record 1-0 against Fokina

Casper Ruud was sharp in his 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory against Kamil Majchzrak. The Norwegian’s winning percentage on first and second serve are poles apart at 81% and 38% respectively. Casper has been good with his breakpoint conversion rate of 60%.

Fokina threw away a two-set lead before surviving in 5 sets against Botic van de Zandschulp. Casper Ruud holds the edge here given his superior form on clay. Fokina can unsettle him with his deft hands at the net.

French Open Day 6 Predictions: Casper Ruud to win in four sets against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

2) Aryna Sabalenka vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Sabalenka and Pavlyuchenkova are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head record

Sabalenka overcame compatriot Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-5 6-3 in the second round. The Belarusian converted 73% of breakpoints and won 69% of points at the net. 

Pavlyuchenkova thrashed Ajla Tomlijanovic conceding only 5 games in an 88-minute victory. The 31st seed is yet to drop a set at Roland Garros. 

The former junior World number 1 has a great chance of upsetting Sabalenka. However, the Belarusian defeated her last month in Madrid and looks set to repeat the feat.

French Open Day 6 Predictions: Aryna Sabalenka to win in three sets against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

3) Victoria Azarenka vs Madison Keys

Azarenka leads the head to head record 1-0 against Keys. This is their first encounter on the red dirt.

Azarenka was too good for the Danish teen Clara Tauson, defeating her 7-5 6-4. Despite committing 7 double faults, the 15th seed controlled the rallies with a first-serve winning percentage of 72 and took 67% of points at the net. 27 unforced errors is a bad number that Victoria will have to reduce.

Keys eliminated Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez 6-1 7-5 in the round of 64. The American claimed 71% of her first-serve points and also fired 6 aces. The 23rd seed has a woeful breakpoint conversion rate of 36. Keys has not been very consistent with an equal number of winners and unforced errors (31 each).

Azarenka’s vast experience in big matches will help her sail past Keys, who can take this match down to the wire.

French Open Day 6 Predictions: Victoria Azarenka to win in three sets against Madison Keys

4) Alexander Zverev vs Laslo Djere

Zverev leads the head-to-head record 1-0 against Djere.

Zverev pipped the big-serving Roman Safiullin 7-6(4) 6-3 7-6(1). The German fired 15 aces and claimed 80% of his first-serve points.  

Djere edged compatriot Kecmanovic in a 5-set thriller. The Serbian lost the first two sets 6-4 6-4 but roared back to win the next 3 sets 6-3 6-2 6-3. 

Fairly, an easy win for Zverev if he holds his serve and does not play more points at the net. Djere won 102/166 points in 0-4 shot rallies and the German will have to watch out for that.

French Open Day 6 Predictions: Alexander Zverev to win in four sets against Laslo Djere

5) Daniil Medvedev vs Reilly Opelka

Medvedev leads the head-to-head record 2-1 against Opelka. This is their first meeting on the clay surface.

Despite a sluggish start, Medvedev hit top gear in a four-set win against American Tommy Paul in the round of 64. The Russian found his groove on the red dirt clinching 80% of his first-serve points and grabbing 70% of points at the net. 

Opelka battled past Spaniard Jaume Munar in a four-setter. The American smashed 18 aces and took a solid 75% of his first-serve points. 

Medvedev will find it tough to get past the big-serving Opelka. The match may feature a couple of tie-breakers. Daniil would scrape through with his composure under pressure and relentless hitting.

French Open Day 6 Predictions: Daniil Medvedev to win in five sets against Reilly Opelka

6) Serena Williams vs Danielle Collins

Serena leads the head-to-head record 1-0 against Collins. This is their first meeting on clay.

Serena Williams survived a three-set scare against Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu. The American has struggled to finish games from strong situations and that has prolonged her time on the court. 

The 23-time grand slam champion has been strong with her first serve (75%). 26 winners and 27 unforced errors is a worrying stat for the 7th seed.

Collins was ruthless in a 6-0 6-2 win against qualifier Anhelina Kalinina in the second round. 

Serena is yet to get into full form and Collins can be in the driver’s seat if she takes the first set. However, the American legend holds the edge in deciding sets and tiebreakers and that will be an X-factor.

French Open Day 6 Predictions: Serena Williams to win in three sets against Danielle Collins

7) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs John Isner

Tsitsipas leads the head-to-head record 3-2 against Isner. This is their first clash on clay.

The 5th seed Tsitsipas dispatched Spaniard Pedro Martinez 6-3 6-4 6-3. The Greek smashed 8 aces, fired 45 winners, and won a whopping 96% of points at the net (26/27). 

Isner got the better of Filip Krajinovic beating him 7-6(6) 6-1 7-6(5). The American pounded a record 23 aces and grabbed 91% of his first-serve points. John Isner will be pleased with these stats (80% of points taken at the net and 60 winners). 

Tsitsipas has won his last 3 encounters against Isner in straight sets each and I expect the trend to continue. Stefanos is ice-cool from the baseline and his impressive consistency will take him through. Isner has weapons to take a set but may just fall a few points from doing it.

French Open Day 6 Predictions: Stefanos Tsitsipas to win in straight sets against John Isner

8) Sofia Kenin vs Jessica Pegula

Pegula leads the head to head record 2-1 against Kenin. 

Sofia Kenin won 7-5 6-3 against compatriot Hailey Baptiste. The American took 71% of her first-serve points. The 4th seed had more unforced errors (22) than winners (20). Kenin claimed 52 out of 73 points in 0-4 shot rallies. 

Jessica Pegula beat the Czech Tereza Martincova 6-3 6-3 in the second round. The American bagged 72% of her first serve points and displayed her prowess at the net winning 69% of points. 25 unforced errors is not a pleasing number for Jessica.

Jessica Pegula has defeated Kenin a few times in ITF tournaments. However, World number 5 Kenin is in a different league now and the tag of being the runner-up last year will help her call the shots. 

French Open Day 6 Predictions: Sofia Kenin to win in straight sets against Jessica Pegula

So dear fans, whom are you sidelining with for a jam-packed Day 6 at the French Open 2021? Do share your thoughts and predictions for the French Open below.