Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Roland Garros match.
Carlos Alcaraz remains on track to defend his title. The Spaniard swept through last year’s draw, dropping only one set before the semi-finals. His opponent this time, the experienced yet clearly outclassed Damir Dzumhur, has already surpassed expectations by reaching the third round. Against Alcaraz, however, the Bosnian is unlikely to aim for more than damage control — his primary objective will be to avoid a heavy defeat.
Damir Dzumhur
Damir Dzumhur did well to overcome world No. 132 Thiago Agustín Tirante and world No. 37 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, but those results hardly reflect a high competitive standard. He’s on a 13-match losing streak against top-10 opponents, and on clay he has just one win in seven such fixtures across his career. This year, Dzumhur has picked up 15 wins from 26 matches on clay, but his most noteworthy victories came against unranked players outside the top 30.
Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz is in exceptional form, having won 17 of his last 18 matches on clay since April. In the Roland Garros first round, Carlos Alcaraz eased past Giulio Zeppieri in straight sets. He dropped a set to an unranked opponent in the second round but still delivered impressive statistics — a 75% first-serve percentage and 41 winners to 25 unforced errors. He controlled the majority of rallies and secured nine breaks against an opponent with a far more reliable serve than Damir Dzumhur.
Damir Dzumhur vs Carlos Alcaraz Prediction
Carlos Alcaraz holds a decisive advantage in all facets of the game. Damir Dzumhur lacks both the speed and the firepower to cope with the Spaniard’s intensity, making a dominant win for Carlos Alcaraz the most likely outcome.
