Robin Soderling - Julien Benneteau

Robin Soderling is in big form at the moment, playing maybe even his best tennis ever, so I just must go with him, especially against such mediocre opponents. He was rather an average claycourter before this year, but now it seems he prepared well for Roland Garros and his movement and baseline play looks just excellent, with no weaknesses at all. He's already won with really solid Juan Monaco (62 63 61) and another claycourter Paul Capdeville (63 62 64), both in easy three setters, so I can't see any other upset today because his opponent is weaker than Monaco and Capdeville on clay. I know that Swede can be quite tired after tournament in Dusseldorf, where he won all four matches (which also show his amazing form), with great opponents - James Blake (57 63 60), Tomas Berdych (64 16 63), Guillermo Canas (63 61) and Mikhail Youzhny (63 61), so it's also a motivation for him to finish this match as soon as possible.

On the other hand Benneteau passed first two rounds with huge problems, despite of the fact that opponents was at most average - Vincent Spadea (64 64 36 36 64) and Alejandro Falla (16 76 63 67 60). After such two five setter he must be exhausted and I'm sure it'll be only another fact to fail him in here. So far he's just poor in here, having luck with draw, but against Soderling, he shouldn't win a single set. Julien is maybe home player, but still he isn't claycourter as he rather likes hardcourts, so it's hard to imagine him, being tough opponent for Robin. An easy 3-0 is the most predictable score, so @ 2.25 at StanJames must be my choice.

4 units* Robin Soderling to win 3-0 @ 2.25 at StanJames

Florent Serra - Robby Ginepri

Florent Serra is maybe only an average claycourter, who shouldn't have reached even third round, but still he had some luck and I think he has the best chance, maybe in whole career, to make a fourth round in Roland Garros, which could be a big moment for him. Frenchman, who has a big support in here, is 5-2 this year on clay and I can say his form is quite ok, especially that in previous round he played some good tennis, with Santiago Giraldo (64 63 62) and Victor Hanescu (64 63 67 76). I know that he isn't the best player to back as he's only 94th in ATP ranking and his overal results aren't the best, but against such opponent, being underdog, he must be in my selection.

I've been writing about Ginepri couple of times, and he's still in this tournament, playing some good tennis, but for me it must be an end today, even if opponent is worse than his previous one. Robby had pathetic clay record since last week, he was the best example that hardcourters from USA can't be competitive in Paris, but he's so far the biggest surprise as he's already in third round, beating Donald Young (62 36 76 62) and Igor Andreev (46 62 76 62). I know that he was good in those matches, but still I can't trust him on clay, especially being favourite in third round Roland Garros. I think that odds are really too high on Serra and @ 2.10 has huge value, because Robby is still mediocre claycourter, such things can't change in few days.

4 units* Florent Serra @ 2.10 at VCBet

Fernando Gonzalez - Stanislas Wawrinka

Fernando Gonzalez is great claycourter with some excellent results in past, who is clearly unerestimate by bookies, being such underdog in here. Of course he isn't in his best form, but still he looks quite consistent and solid these days, having amazing 15-1 record on clay this year, winning with few decent players. In this tournament he's already won with Pablo Cuevas (63 63 61) and Pablo Andujar (75 60 67 76), which maybe isn't impressive, but still looking quite ok. What's more he's 4-0 against Wawrinka, with one win on clay, so I don't know why he should be an underdog in here.

On the other hand Stanislas is seeded with number nine in here, being in great form this year, having 12-4 on clay, which is also brilliant record. I know that he's one of the best players at the moment, even in whole circuit, he won with ease against Philipp Kohlschreiber (63 64 63) and Marin Cilic (76 76 61), but still against Gonzalez he can't be a big favourite. For me it's a typical 50-50 game, where at least four sets must be played, so over 38.5 games looks a great bet, because it ought to be tight match because class difference is none.

4 units* over 38.5 games @ 1.833 at Sportingbet

Radek Stepanek - Tommy Robredo

It's really similar situation as in previous preview, both players are really good, Radek is in better form, while h2h is in Robredo favour, both are really consistent on clay this year, and less than four sets is quite impossbile in my view. Over 39.5 games must be good choice because it'll be huge battle, with no favourite.

4 units* over 39.5 games @ 1.833 at Sportingbet

1 PICK WON

3 PICKS LOST

-8.68