Day eight at Roland Garros: French Open betting preview, tips & TV details

Day eight
ITV4 & Eurosport 1, from 10am Sunday

Juan Ignacio Londero is 25-1 to upset Rafael Nadal in Paris on Sunday and Leonardo Mayer is a 9-1 chance to beat Roger Federer, but there are better bets to be had in the matches not involving the big names.

K Nishikori v B Paire

Kei Nishikori battled back from a double-break down in the deciding set to get the better of Laslo Djere in the third round and the Japanese star may need to reproduce those battling qualities to see off home hope Benoit Paire.

Nishikori doesn’t like to make things easy for himself. The seventh seed was a set down to French favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round and he was in even deeper trouble against Djere on Friday.

But, as is often the case, Nishikori pulled through and he should expect another stern examination of his Roland Garros credentials against an in-form Paire.

The Frenchman claimed silverware in Lyon prior to his home Grand Slam to suggest a bold bid was in store and earlier wins at Roland Garros over Marius Copil, compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Pablo Carreno Busta have also shown him in a good light.

But he has dropped a set in all three of his successes and with no quarter-final appearance in his previous 33 attempts at Grand Slam level, it’s difficult to see things changing now.

Paire, who has won his last eight clay matches, is evidently full of confidence and could clinch a set. However, he has lost all three of his meetings with Nishikori on the slower surface, two of them at Roland Garros.

Nishikori has the character and fitness to go with his natural ability and if it turns into a marathon he would be favoured to come out on top.

He has won 22 of his 28 matches that have gone the distance, one of which was a five-set victory over Paire in Paris last year.

Recommendation
K Nishikori to win & both players to win a set
1pt 13-8 bet365

S Stephens v G Muguruza

Sloane Stephens tends to produce her best performances when the pressure is off and being rated as the outsider for her fourth round clash with Garbine Muguruza could spur her on.

Stephens went under radar when claiming her maiden Grand Slam crown at the US Open two years ago and little was expected of her when she made the final of the French Open last season - she was 66-1 for the title pre-tournament.

The American needed a deciding set to overcome Polona Hercog in the last round but she performs better against stronger opposition and punters should expect her to raise her game against Muguruza.