French Open Tennis Day 12 Picks 2019 (June 6th)

Day 10 ended up with a slight improvement in the numbers from the French Open, but I have to admit I think I should have been better than 2-2.

Roger Federer and Petra Martic could have easily seen their matches go in a very different direction if they had played the big points better, but I have to be happy with the improved results over the last week.


On Day 11 we have the remaining Quarter Final matches to be played, although the weather in Paris looks miserable to say the least. I would not be surprised at all if the entire day's play is a wash out, but my selections can be seen below.

I have added the two Picks from the women's matches to the 'MY PICKS' section as I've been slightly short of time.

You can also see the updated totals from the French Open as we approach the final five days at the tournament.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The Tennis was postponed on Wednesday without a ball being hit in the Singles matches scheduled. All of the matches below were shifted to Thursday which means the four Semi Final matches will all take place on Friday ahead of the weekend Finals as the second Grand Slam comes to a close.


Novak Djokovic - 6.5 games v Alexander Zverev: There has not been a lot of attention given to Novak Djokovic as he has quietly made his way through to another French Open Quarter Final. Some of that may be down to the fact that he made serene progress through the draw and is almost in a blink and you'll miss him kind of speed through matches.

Novak Djokovic has needed less than seven hours on the court to win his four matches in Paris and he has yet to drop a set. The numbers are backing up the complete comfort Djokovic has been feeling on the court and it could be argued that the World Number 1 is actually playing the best tennis out of all the men left in the draw including Rafael Nadal.

That doesn't mean anything when it comes down to deciding who will win the tournament as the head to head with Nadal is going to be a difficult match for anyone on this surface. However it does suggest Novak Djokovic is going to be a little too good for Alexander Zverev who has reached consecutive Quarter Finals at the French Open after upsetting Fabio Fognini in the Fourth Round.

It has been a difficult tournament for Zverev who has managed to only just edge past three of the four opponents he has faced in Paris. Nothing is coming easy at the moment and Zverev has spent five more hours on court than Djokovic which has to be accumulating the fatigue for a player who won the title in Geneva on the weekend the French Open began.

The Zverev serve is going to be put under immense pressure by Djokovic too which is only going to add to the mental and physical tiredness the younger man may be feeling. He has not been able to get through too many service games with ease and that has added to the time spent on the court and I do think it is going to be an issue for him as it was twelve months ago when Zverev had very little left in the tank against Dominic Thiem at this same stage of Roland Garros.

The World Number 1 has been very strong behind serve so far in this tournament and that has freed the Djokovic arm when it comes to the return. He has won at least 43% of points against the serve in every match so far in Paris and I do think he will have the majority of break point chances in this one and that should put him in a position to cover this handicap mark.

Matches between Djokovic and Zverev have tended to be one-sided regardless of who wins. Two years ago Alexander Zverev dominated Novak Djokovic in a straight sets win on the clay courts of Rome, but it is Djokovic playing the better tennis at the moment and I think he will be able to wear down a player who has spent a lot of time on the courts over the last couple of weeks.


Dominic Thiem win 3-1 v Karen Khachanov: Most eyes will be on the other Quarter Final being played at the French Open in the men's draw on Wednesday, but I think Dominic Thiem and Karen Khachanov can produce a really good match.

Both players have shown some really good form in Paris in this tournament, although I am not surprised Thiem is such a big favourite to win the match. Prior to the French Open beginning, Karen Khachanov had not really shown much form on the clay courts with a 3-5 record where he had held 79% of service games and broken in just 19% of return games.

That doesn't scream out a threat in the draw, but Khachanov has really enjoyed playing in Paris where he won the Masters on an indoor hard court at the back end of last season. His only two previous Fourth Round appearances in a Grand Slam have both come in Paris too and now he has reached a maiden Quarter Final with a good looking win over Juan Martin Del Potro.

The serve has been crucial for the Russian having won at least 64% of service points played in each match so far at the French Open. In the lead up events Khachanov had only won 35% of return points played on the clay, but in the French Open he has won at least 40% in each match and I do think he is close to playing his best tennis which is going to be a challenge for Dominic Thiem.

However I have to have the utmost respect for the Austrian who may be the third best clay courter in the world behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Some would argue you can place Thiem above Djokovic too, while his numbers have been improving in each passing Round at this tournament as he looks to be peaking towards the weekend.

Like his opponent, Thiem has been very good behind the serve throughout this event and he is now beginning to have a lot more success when it comes to attacking the return. Dominic Thiem has perhaps not been as strong on the clay as he has in previous years, but he is still producing some quality numbers and I do give him an edge when it comes to the return of serve that should see Thiem edge out Khachanov in this Quarter Final.

It would be a surprise if Khachanov goes away easily though considering his own level of the last couple of weeks. He has a serve that can really put the pressure on opponents and a big all around game that should see him at least push Thiem more than Gael Monfils was able to do in the last Round.

I would expect that to be enough to take a set and I think a small interest is warranted in backing Dominic Thiem to win this one in four sets.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic - 6.5 Games @ 1.72 William Hill (2 Units)
Dominic Thiem Win 3-1 @ 3.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Madison Keys + 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Simona Halep - 5.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

French Open Update: 56-44, + 13.61 Units (201 Units Staked, + 6.77% Yield)