Novak Djokovic’s quest for that coveted first French Open title is still very much alive after defeating Aljaz Bedene in the third round on Saturday. The world no. 1 will look to seal a place in the quarterfinals when he takes on the ever-dangerous Roberto Bautista Agut at Court Philippe-Chatrier this coming Monday.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this fourth-round clash and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the round-of-16 match between John Isner and Andy Murray.
Novak Djokovic stormed into the fourth round of the 2016 French Open with an emphatic 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over Aljaz Bedene on Saturday. It was a terrific performance by the 11-time Grand Slam champion who needed just two hours and two minutes to oust the Slovenian.
Djokovic, who recorded his 40th match win of the season, blasted 39 winners and won 68 percent of his first serve points against Bedene. What proved to be the difference in the match, however, was his sizzling return. Djokovic converted seven of his 17 break point opportunities against Bedene.
With the victory, Djokovic is through to the fourth round of the French Open for the 10th time in his career. He will look to continue his hot streak when he takes on Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round. The top seed will fancy his chances of doing just that as he has fared extremely well against the Spaniard in the past. Djokovic has beaten Bautista Agut in each of their last four meetings with the world no. 1 dropping just a single set during that span.
Roberto Bautista Agut booked a spot in the fourth round of the 2016 French Open with a convincing 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over Borna Coric on Saturday. It was a brilliant showing from Bautista Agut who needed just one hour and 59 minutes to outlast the Croatian star. He fired 38 winners in total, including three aces, to secure his first appearance in the fourth round on the terre battue. Bautista Agut was also efficient at the net, claiming 19 of 22 points in this match.
Things are bound to get tougher, though, for Bautista Agut as standing in his way in the round of 16 is the red-hot Novak Djokovic. The Serbian star just notched his 52nd match win at the clay-court Grand Slam with a victory over Aljaz Bedene on Saturday. That won’t faze the 14th-seeded Spaniard, however, as he is playing some of the best tennis of his life right now. With his straight-sets win against Coric, Bautista Agut has now recorded three straight match wins on clay. The last time he achieved that feat was back at the ATP World Tour 250 event in Stuttgart in 2014.
For Bautista Agut to record a major shock against Djokovic, the Spaniard needs to get his service game going quickly. Bautista Agut’s serve was solid against Coric as he converted 71 percent of his first serves in that match. Bautista Agut took full advantage of that fact, winning 44 of his 54 first serve points for an exceptional 81 percent success rate.
Bautista Agut is 6-4 in his last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Djokovic (-5,000) beats Bautista Agut in straight sets.
