French Open 2024: Jannik Sinner vs Pavel Kotov preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | Roland Garros
Match Details
Fixture: (2) Jannik Sinner vs Pavel Kotov
Date: May 31, 2024
Tournament: French Open 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Paris, France
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Clay (Outdoor)
Prize Money: £53,478,000
Live Telecast: USA - NBC, Tennis Channel, Peacock | Canada - TSN, RDS | UK - Eurosport, Discovery+ | India - Sony Ten
Jannik Sinner vs Pavel Kotov preview
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner will face Pavel Kotov in the third round of the 2024 French Open on Friday, May 31.
Sinner commenced his quest for a second Major crown with a straight sets win over Christopher Eubanks. He took on French veteran Richard Gasquet for a spot in the third round.
Sinner struck first in the opening set to go up a break. While Gasquet saved a couple of set points on his own serve, the young Italian was able to close out the set himself in the next game.
Sinner raced through the second set, breaking his opponent's serve twice to take a two-set lead. Gasquet rallied from a break down in the third set to make it 2-2 but the 22-year-old snagged another break and ran away with the match for a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win.
Kotov survived a five-set thriller to sneak past 32nd seed Cameron Norrie and set up a second-round showdown with three-time Major champion Stan Wawrinka. Neither player got close to a break point in the first set, leading to a tie-break.
Kotov came out on top in it to claim the first set. The two remained steady on serve for most of the second set. The set concluded with three straight breaks of serve, with the Russian gaining the upper hand to clinch the set.
Wawrinka answered back in style as he reeled off six games in a row to take the third set. The two kept up with each other in the fourth set and forced another tie-break, in which Kotov edged out the Swiss for a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5) win.
Jannik Sinner vs Pavel Kotov head-to-head
Sinner leads Kotov 1-0 in the head-to-head. He won their previous encounter at the 2024 Madrid Open in straight sets.
Jannik Sinner vs Pavel Kotov odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Jannik Sinner vs Pavel Kotov prediction
Given how Sinner has competed in the first two rounds, the injury that forced him out of the Italian Open isn't a major concern at the moment. He improved to 30-3 for the season after his win over Gasquet, and it was his ninth straight win at the Majors.
Kotov has already punched way above his weight to eliminate Norrie and Wawrinka from the tournament. He'll need to maintain the same level of intensity against the Italian as well.
However, Sinner has shown that he's a cut above the rest this year. Additionally, if they play under a closed roof given the rainy weather in Paris, it would further sway the contest in his favor. The Italian will be expected to advance further with ease.
Pick: Jannik Sinner to win in straight sets.