French Open 2024: Grigor Dimitrov vs Aleksandar Kovacevic preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Roland Garros
Match Details
Fixture: Aleksandar Kovacevic vs (10) Grigor Dimitrov
Date: TBD
Tournament: French Open 2024
Round: First Round (Round of 128)
Venue: Stade Roland Garros, Paris
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Clay (Outdoor)
Prize Money: £53,478,000
Live Telecast: USA - NBC, Peacock, Tennis Channel & Bally Sports | UK - Eurosport & Discovery+ | Canada - TSN & RDS | India - Sony Network
Grigor Dimitrov vs Aleksandar Kovacevic preview
Grigor Dimitrov will open his 2024 French Open campaign with a first-round encounter against American Aleksandar Kovacevic on Sunday, May 26.
Dimitrov, the 10th seed at this year’s tournament, has put together a solid 2024 season with his win-loss reading 24-8. The big results have come on hardcourt, including a title in Brisbane and a Masters 1000 final in Miami.
The Bulgarian also made the fourth rounds at Madrid and Rome, a decent build-up to the claycourt Slam.
Kovacevic, meanwhile, has a negative win-loss for the season at 5-10. The American has not won any main draw matches on clay this season, but did put together a few wins in the qualification rounds in Geneva last week.
He had made his French Open debut against Novak Djokovic last year and faces yet another formidable opponent in Dimitrov. That said, he comes into the tournament sitting at a near career-high ATP singles rank courtesy of some strong performances at the start of the year.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Aleksandar Kovacevic head-to-head
Dimitrov and Kovacevic have never played against each other on tour before.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Aleksandar Kovacevic odds
(All odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Grigor Dimitrov vs Aleksandar Kovacevic prediction
Given the huge gulf in world rankings and their levels of experience playing at the highest level, Grigor Dimitrov will come into the contest as a firm favorite.
Clay has not always brought the best of Dimitrov’s game. In fact, the French Open is the only Slam where he has yet to cross the fourth-round hurdle. That said, he has put up strong showings every now and then in his 13 appearances.
Much like Dimitrov, Aleksandar Kovacevic is also much more comfortable on quicker surfaces. All of his four Challenger-level titles have come on hardcourts.
The American is more than capable of staying in baseline rallies, but his opponent’s well-rounded game should give him the edge.
Dimitrov likes to play aggressively, but also mixes in the occasional slice and drop shots to keep his opponents on their toes. His form coming into the tournament is encouraging and if he can keep a tab on the error count, the Bulgarian should be able to sail through.
Prediction: Dimitrov to win in straight sets