Don’t let the odds fool you. Stan Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem are very live sleepers heading into the semifinals of the 2016 French Open. Wawrinka won Roland Garros, his second Grand Slam title, last year when he upset Novak Djokovic in the final. Thiem, on the other hand, has been a feisty competitor in his two head-to-head matchups against Djokovic.
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Stan Wawrinka has picked up momentum against middle-of-the-pack contenders to make it this far in the French Open. He now faces one of his fiercest rivals, Andy Murray. The defending French Open champion will need to control his winners compared to unforced errors. That style of play will aid him in dissecting a calculated, finesse-based player like Murray.
The Swiss does plenty of damage with his one-handed backhand, but his forehand has given him the most success in the tournament. He’s hit 104 winners with the forehand to just 52 with his backhand. Being able to apply the backhand should allow Wawrinka to put plenty of pressure on Murray, allowing him to force errors.
Wawrinka trails in the career head-to-head matchups against Murray, 8-7, but has won the past three meetings. He offers plenty of value at +110 to make a second straight appearance in the French Open finals.
Writer’s prediction: Wawrinka beats Murray in five sets.
Dominic Thiem is young and talented, but he still may not have what it takes to beat the world No. 1 Novak Djokovic as his +650 odds suggest. However, he does have plenty of advantages that could cause an upset for the ages. Thiem stands at 6’1” and plays like a future Grand Slam champion.
The Austrian already proved that he can take it to Djokovic in their second head-to-head meeting at Miami this year. Thiem lost 6-3, 6-4 but had a whopping 14 break point opportunities. The slower surface of clay should help the 22-year-old play the volley game against the world No. 1. Expect him to surprise plenty as he gives the favorite a run for his money.
Writer’s prediction: Thiem loses in a four-set thriller.
