Friday's French Open tips: Iga Swiatek to overcome Czech test, Carlos Alcaraz determined to progress

Czech players have been impressive at the French Open over the years but Marie Bouzkova will have to be at her best to down Iga Swiatek.

Swiatek has been installed as the Roland Garros favourite but that puts a lot of pressure on the Pole.

Here we make our picks for the French Open matches scheduled for Friday 31 May.

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Ben Shelton vs Felix Auger-Aliassime | Pick: Auger-Aliassime

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Corentin Moutet vs Sebastian Ofner | Pick: Ofner

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Zhizhen Zhang vs Stefanos Tsitsipas | Pick: Tsitsipas

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Sebastian Korda vs Carlos Alcaraz | Pick: Alcaraz

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Chloe Paquet vs Marketa Vondrousova | Pick: Vondrousova

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Clara Tauson vs Sofia Kenin | Pick: Kenin

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Leylah Annie Fernandez vs Ons Jabeur | Pick: Jabeur

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Iga Swiatek vs Marie Bouzkova | Pick: Swiatek

 

Planet Sport Bet offer: Place a £5+ cash all correct accumulator (Min. 5 selections) on tennis and get up to a 50% BONUS on your winnings

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Ben Shelton vs Felix Auger-Aliassime

Seeded stars Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime clash in the third round in what will be their first career meeting.

Auger-Aliassime is ranked lower but enjoys a better record on clay and also has the edge in experience on the surface.

Shelton has played just 30 professional matches on clay while his rival has long past 150 matches.

This could be a tough battle but the Canadian is favoured to progress from this one

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Corentin Moutet vs Sebastian Ofner

The Frenchman Corentin Moutet will see his run put to the test when he tackles Sebastian Ofner.

Ofner has a mixed record on clay but does hold the edge over Moutet when it comes to ranking.

This will be the first clash in singles action between these two players at any level.

Both of these players have upset wins to their name and this one is a tight call.

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Zhizhen Zhang vs Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Zhizhen Zhang haven't yet faced off on the professional circuit in singles action and that probably favours the Greek star.

Tsitsipas is a master of the slice and a highly skilled clay courter with so many weapons on the surface.

Meanwhile, Zhang will be forced to rely on his ability to grind out a result by hanging in on points.

The Chinese star must find a way to frustrate Tsitsipas to give himself any chance of a win.

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Sebastian Korda vs Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz holds an edge over Sebastian Korda in their past meetings with a 3-1 lead in their clashes.

Alcaraz is among the favourites for the men's crown despite an indifferent season by his own standards.

Korda holds a win over Alcaraz on clay but the overall record suggests the Spaniard is favoured for a reason.

Alcaraz has made it clear that he really wants the Roland Garros title.

 

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Chloe Paquet vs Marketa Vondrousova

Another home hope for France could have reached the end of the line in the third round.

Chloe Paquet takes on former Roland Garros finalist and reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.

Vondrousova holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Paquet although that clash was eight years ago.

Vondrousova is vulnerable to the upset but should get through to the Round of 16.

 

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Clara Tauson vs Sofia Kenin

Clara Tauson is set for her first career clash with former Major champion Sofia Kenin.

Kenin has been a long way from playing the kind of tennis that propelled her to world No 1.

However, her big stage experience should count in Kenin's favour here.

Tauson has a lot of potential but this might not be her time to shine.

 

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Leylah Annie Fernandez vs Ons Jabeur

Leylah Fernandez could be a sound option to defeat Ons Jabeur, who hasn't played her best tennis of late.

However, if Jabeur does find her level then there is only one likely winner.

Jabeur has bested Fernandez in all three of their previous meetings on the WTA Tour.

The Tunisian has beaten Fernandez on all three surfaces as well suggesting she should overcome.

 

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Iga Swiatek vs Marie Bouzkova

Iga Swiatek faces her first real test in her French Open run when she takes on Marie Bouzkova.

Bouzkova is a better player than her world No 42 status denotes and she is probably even capable of quality higher than her career-best No 24 suggests.

This is the Czech player's best performance at Roland Garros to date but she faces a red-hot Swiatek.

Swiatek has never faced Bouzkova before but will have played against similar stars and come out on top.