The 2015 French Open tournament in beautiful Paris rolls along, as the world’s best tennis players continue to vie for a shot at the Coupe de Mousquetaires. Based on some of the early results from the first round of play, the top-ranked players have been able to advance to the next round with relative ease.
Among those ranked players is fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori, who will not be heading home early from the French Open this year. Nishikori will take on Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the second round, who will look to carry his momentum from his win at the Geneva Open to Roland Garros.
Keep reading for our preview of the second round matchup between these two tough competitors. And don’t forget to also check out our preview for another French Open second round match between Roger Federer and Marcel Granollers.
[sc:TennisArticles ]Kei Nishikori vs. Thomaz Bellucci Betting Preview
Where: Tennis Club de Paris, Paris
When: TBD
Line: Kei Nishikori vs. Thomaz Bellucci – view all French Open lines
Betting on Kei Nishikori
Kei Nishikori doesn’t need to be reminded about his abysmal finish in last year’s French Open, where he lost in his first match of the tournament to unseeded Martin Klizan. This year, Nishikori made sure that he’ll advance to the next round with his 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 victory over France’s own Paul-Henri Mathieu.
[sc:Other240banner ]Nishikori won 79 percent of points on his first serve in his first round match against the Frenchman. The fifth-seed also converted seven of his 15 break point opportunities against Mathieu.
The young Japanese phenom continues to excel on dirt, as Nishikori improved his record to 11-2 on clay courts this season. Not only that, but he is consistently competitive in recent events by advancing to the quarterfinals round or better in his past four tournaments.
Nishikori won a title on clay earlier this past April at the Barcelona Open over 42nd-ranked Pablo Andujar. Taking on 40th-ranked Thomaz Bellucci in the second round shouldn’t be much of a problem for Nishikori, as he has a record of 28-2 this season against players outside of the top 10.
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Betting on Thomaz Bellucci
If Thomaz Bellucci can replicate his performance at the Geneva Open, chances are high that he can give the rest of the players in Roland Garros a run for their money. The Brazilian is fresh off a 7-6(4), 6-4 finals victory in Switzerland last week over Joao Sousa. Bellucci converted four out of his six break point attempts against Sousa en route to his first title of the season.
And Bellucci is off to a great start in Roland Garros by defeating Marinko Matosevic this past Monday in straight sets. Bellucci won that match by turning in seven of his 10 break point chances against Matosevic, and by converting 71 percent of his points on second serve.
Bellucci has won 60 percent of his career matches played on clay, but is only 14-10 on the dirt court this season. He would need to be in top form against Nishikori if he plans to defeat his first elite player for the season, as the Brazilian has fallen to all three of his opponents that were ranked in the top 10.
In his one and only match against Nishikori, Bellucci came out on top with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win in Bogota back in 2007. But that was eight years ago, during Nishikori’s rookie year as a pro. A win over the now highly-ranked Nishikori would do wonders for Bellucci’s self-esteem for the rest of the tournament in Paris.
Writer’s Prediction
Nishikori prevails with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Bellucci.
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