The French Open is already into the third round at Roland Garros and there’s a fascinating battle on Suzanne-Lenglen this Friday between 24th seed Stan Wawrinka and top Bulgarian player Grigor Dimitrov.
These two meet locked together on four wins apiece from previous meetings. Switzerland’s Wawrinka won the French Open in 2015 but lost twice to Dimitrov earlier in that same clay court campaign.
Now 34, triple Grand Slam victor Wawrinka faces the battle-hardened Bulgarian who eliminated 11th seed Marin Cilic in five sets to set up this encounter.
Both men were once as high as third in the ATP World Rankings, so it promises to be closer than the betting suggests.
Dimtirov looks overpriced at 5/2 with Bethard to pull off another shock, not least because he leads the career clay head-to-heads with Wawrinka 2-1.
While Wawrinka has only dropped a set in two matches so far, and Dimitrov has gone the distance on both his outings at Roland Garros, the disparity between them in the betting looks too large.
Dimitrov well worth backing to strike first
The Bulgarian has won the first set in six of their last seven meetings and that makes Dimitrov also worth a wager to get himself in front at 7/4 with Betway.
That is evidence that Wawrinka can often start against this opponent poorly, while age is not on his side either.
It’s the fourth time in six years that Dimitrov has reached round three of the French Open and he’ll be looking to make the last 16 after coming through that clash with Cilic.
Wawrinka was eliminated early on at Roland Garros last year, crashing out in five sets to Guillermo Garcia Lopez, and has failed to make it into the second week seven times since 2005.
This may be one occasion where it pays to back the outsider in Dimitrov. He looks the best value on offer in the men’s singles matches on day six of this year’s tournament.
Bet of the Day: 5/2 with Bethard, Grigor Dimitrov to beat Stan Wawrinka.
