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Australian Bernard Tomic got over some bad form in the first-round and will face a tough second-round battle against world no. 47 Borna Coric at the French Open. Join The Roar for live scores from 9pm (AEST).
Tomic’s form leading up to the second grand slam of the year was absolutely terrible.
Apart from the tanking allegation he copped after holding his racquet the wrong way during a match point (and unsurprisingly not even attempting to hit the ball) he bounced back with a convincing straight sets win over Brian Baker in the first round.
Of course, the form of Tomic leading into the Open was hardly surprising. He hasn’t had many favourable matches, having had to play Diego Schwartzman, Fabio Fogini and Benoit Paire in the lead-up – losing to them all in straight sets.
Couple that with a record on clay that is absolutely shocking – Tomic has won only 37 per cent of his matches on the red dust – and it is not hard to see why he is struggling.
Coric, at only 19-years of age, is quickly rising through the ATP rankings – up to 47 with an overall career winning percentage of 64, slightly increased to 65 on clay. Like Tomic though, his form hasn’t exactly been anything to write home about.
The difference between Coric and Tomic though is the matches he has been losing (apart from when he played Novak Djokovic in Madrid) have all been in three sets and he has managed to win a couple along the way.
Tomic has never made it past the second round of the French Open in six attempts while Coric had his first crack last year and was knocked out in the third round.
The pair have played once before, on the hard court at Indian Wells, a match Coric won in straight sets. With that match coming only last year, the pressure is on Tomic to turn things around.
Prediction
Tomic doesn’t like clay and his attitude will get the better of him here. Coric to advance to the third round.
Coric in four sets.
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