Due to the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic, we only get to see one men’s quarterfinal match on Day 11 of the French Open. Who will meet Casper Ruud in the semifinal? Will it be Alex de Minaur or Alexander Zverev? As always, our writers share their thoughts on the match. Predicting this match are Jack Edward, Nurein Ahmed, Damian Kust, Jordan Reynolds, and Manuel Traquete. (Our writers also submitted their predictions for the Djokovic vs Ruud match before Djokovic withdrew, so we will include their thoughts on that hypothetical matchup, even though it won’t now occur.)
French Open Day 11 Predictions
Novak Djokovic vs Casper Ruud
Jack:
Djokovic’s struggles at this Slam aren’t unprecedented. There have been many times where the World #1 has only just scraped through the first four rounds of a Grand Slam and has come out the other side revived against a Top 10 player. It hasn’t been a kind match-up in the past so I’m leaning towards a Djokovic victory.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4
Nurein:
Will Djokovic play? The reports are not looking good. He canceled his practice session on Tuesday and has played nine hours of tennis in his last two matches. In the past 30 years, no player has won a Grand Slam after clocking over 12 and a half hours of court time in their first four rounds. Djokovic spent nearly 14 hours reaching the quarterfinal. So, the odds are clearly stacked against him. I think this is Ruud’s best chance to topple Djokovic at a Major, and if you take away the top seed’s fitness, we will see it happen.
Prediction: Ruud in 4
Damian:
Djokovic keeps surviving, but especially on a physical level it seems like all these marathons will at some point stop him from winning the event. Will Ruud step up? He’s definitely got a lot of confidence at the moment and has already defeated the World No. 1 this clay season. By my guess is Djokovic squeaks through again to likely go out in the semifinals.
Prediction: Djokovic in 5
Jordan:
Despite winning his last two matches in five sets. Djokovic has said that a knee problem is still bothering him ahead of this match. It would be very naive to completely write off the world No. 1, who is the best in tennis history at winning against the odds. But Ruud, who beat Djokovic earlier in the clay-court season, should believe in himself. The two-time French Open runner up’s level has been consistently better throughout the tournament, and he probably will not get a better chance to defeat the Serbian at a Grand Slam.
Prediction: Ruud in 4
Manuel:
In this rematch of last year’s final, Djokovic seems to be struggling physically, so much that many people actually consider Ruud the favorite for this one. However, there’s a reason Djokovic has won 24 Slams and is considered by many to be the best player of all-time, he usually finds a way to pull through even when the odds are stacked against him.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4
Alexander Zverev vs Alex de Minaur
Jack:
De Minaur has made improvements on this surface for sure but this match-up won’t be quite the same as it was against Medvedev. The German’s backhand is quite different, far heavier and suited to this surface, potentially giving the Aussie less opportunities to attack. Still de Minaur’s grit should make this a close one.
Prediction: Zverev in 5
Nurein:
Has Alexander Zverev exorcised his demons? Or how poetic it is that the man nicknamed “Demon” might actually resuscitate them. This should be a fun match to watch. Zverev is making a habit of winning from the losing position, which is not what we’ve become accustomed to seeing. But we are seeing a rejuvenated and resilient player. He said very recently that he’s changed a man with how he behaves on the court, and I think that focus and commitment to the cause are helping him big time. Zverev was my pick to win Roland Garros this year, and I will stick by that.
Prediction: Zverev in 4
Damian:
De Minaur making a Slam quarterfinal on his least preferred surface further establishes his position as a top player. But this is likely where the road ends. Zverev is coming off back-to-back five-setters but should be fine stamina-wise. It’s tough to see how de Minaur can hurt him on clay and it’s likely going to be a more comfortable win for him this time.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Jordan:
The Australian has made huge improvements on clay this season. Nonetheless, Zverev is certainly the better player on the dirt when his game is firing. De Minaur will hope that fatigue is a factor for the German after playing two five-set matches in a row, since he does possess the physical style of play that can exploit tiredness. Zverev likely needs to get this done in three or four sets, but I think his overall quality will allow him to do that.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Manuel:
Zverev pulled through consecutive 5-setters to get here but on paper this should be an easier task; De Minaur had a great run here, but on clay his game is very unlikely to bother Zverev, who is looking for a fourth consecutive semifinal here in Paris.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
