The fifth day at the French Open promises 16 exciting matches. Ben Shelton is set to face Raphael Collignon. Other matches include Frances Tiafoe vs Hubert Hurkacz, Jannik Sinner vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo, and Arthur Rinderknech vs Matteo Berrettini.
Shelton vs Collignon: A Power Versus Rhythm Clash
Ben Shelton enters his match with Grand Slam intensity. His opening win over Daniel Merida was clean, controlled, and built on first-serve authority. Raphael Collignon has shown clay-court grit this season. He’ll try to turn this into a rhythm test rather than a power exchange.
The equation is simple but unforgiving. At Slam tempo, Shelton’s explosiveness and confidence tend to widen the gap as matches progress. That edge could ultimately decide it.
Despite winning a trophy this clay season, it’s been a below-par period for Shelton. Clay is probably not the most suitable surface for his game style. That said, against a player like Collignon, you’d still expect him to come through by the sheer power he possesses.
Shelton’s big serve and athleticism can dominate when he finds rhythm, even on clay. Collignon is well-rounded with solid baseline play. Shelton’s raw power and improving clay adaptation should help him take control as the match progresses.
Cobolli vs Wu: Clay Court Experience Counts
Flavio Cobolli brings heavier clay-court mileage and a proven ability to manage tight moments. Yibing Wu won’t be overawed after easing past Marcos Giron in a controlled opening-round display. He conceded just one break in a solid 7-5 6-2 6-4 win. Their only previous meeting saw Cobolli win in straight sets, and the Italian still has the edge in what will be a competitive encounter.
Cobolli has quietly been one of the best players in this clay season despite going off the boil in his last two matches. Wu is a really talented player, but he’s struggled to put it all together for a long time. Cobolli wins the key moments to take the victory at the French Open.
Cobolli has been rising steadily with strong ball-striking and athletic movement. Wu can hit cleanly but has shown inconsistency on clay lately. Cobolli’s recent level and ability to dictate from the baseline give him the advantage.
Struff vs Faria: Resilience Against Confidence
Jan-Lennard Struff survived a rollercoaster four-set battle to record another statement win over Alexander Bublik. That kind of Slam resilience is his calling card. He’ll lean on it again against Jaime Faria, who is riding a wave of confidence after four straight wins on the bounce. He has proven he has the ability to flip this match in his favour.
Struff had a good win against Bublik, while Faria took out Shapovalov.