Day 5 of Roland Garros 2015 will feature the second part of the men’s second round in action, our journalists Stefano and Niall are joined by freelance journo Jason Fernandes to predict the best matches that will take place on Thursday.
(6)Rafael Nadal vs. Nicolas Almagro
Stefano:
Nadal is far from being at his best but on clay and on best of 5 sets is still very hard to beat. Almagro’s form, despite the good win against Dolgopolov, is not that great and less than one month ago Rafa gave him a quick lesson in Barcelona. In the past Almagro gave some sort of trouble to Nadal but I think this time Rafa will not have many problems. Nadal in 3 sets
Niall:
Nico Almagro did beat Nadal on the clay last year for the first time, but stylistically he still doesn’t match up well against Rafa. Nadal’s top spin forehand cross court will be tough to deal with and will push Almagro way behind the baseline. With this being Roland Garros, Nadal will be especially motivated so he should come through in straight sets. Nadal in 3 sets
Jason:
If there was any year this past decade where Nadal has looked vulnerable on clay it’s been 2015, his form has been poor and he hasn’t been anywhere near as consistent as we would expect from a 9 time Roland Garros champion. Taking this into account you would think the former two-time quarter-finalist and the man who beat Nadal in Barcelona on this very surface last year could pose Nadal some threat in the second round, but that’s only half the story. Given Almagro has suffered a long-term foot injury he’s still navigating his way back to full form. There’s no doubt he’s getting better each and every week and we’ve seen glimpses of what he’s capable of such as his recent encounter with Novak Djokovic in Rome, but asking the 29 year old Spaniard to produce such tennis for prolonged periods against Nadal in a best of 5 match is asking too much. Nadal in 3 sets
(27)Bernard Tomic vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis
Stefano:
Kokkinakis is finally showing his talent this year and a problem he had at the Rome airport that didn’t allow him to play the Masters 1000 in Rome helped him to gain confidence and to put matches on his legs in Bordeaux Challenger. Tomic before the 1st round win was on a 5 matches losing streak, I think he doesn’t like clay and he is looking forward to the grass season. Kokkinakis in 4 sets
Niall:
An all Australian affair will be intriguing to say the least. Tomic won their Indian Wells meeting but with this being clay and Tomic’s form dipping as the year as gone on, I think Kokkanakis might just nick this one in 5 sets. Kokkanakis in 5 sets
Jason:
3, That’s the amount of matches both Aussies have won on the main tour this year on clay combined, so keeping that in mind it’s surprising one of these men will make the 3rd round. The pair have met twice this year already with Tomic getting the better of his younger compatriot both times, but both have been on hard courts, a surface where both prefer to play their tennis. Both didn’t look very convincing in their R1 matches either so calling this one is a tough task. Despite all that the 19 year old has had better match practice on clay (albeit in qualifying and challengers) and I feel that factor alone will determine the outcome of this match. Kokkinakis in 5 sets
(17)David Goffin vs. Santiago Giraldo
Stefano:
Giraldo’s form has been very questionable in the last months, he didn’t have any notable result apart from last week in Geneva. Goffin is much more talented than him and here at Roland Garros he has some good memories from the past (here he lost only to Federer, Djokovic and Melzer), I think is more varied style of play will give him the win. Goffin in 4 sets
Niall:
David Goffin’s rise up the rankings over the past year or so has seen the Belgian break the top 20. Giraldo isn’t having his best of seasons, but the Colombian is still dangerous on the clay. Goffin will be favourite, but if Giraldo can play to the level he is capable of it will be an interesting match. However, with form taken in to account I think Goffin will pull through. Goffin In 4 sets
Jason:
It’s been 3 years since David Goffin perhaps stole the show and had his breakthrough at Roland Garros making R4 as a Lucky Loser, but if he’s going to reach the second week again he first needs to deal with clay-specialist Santiago Giraldo. The two have never met before and both are coming in with very different R1 matches, Giraldo routinely put away American Donald Young while Goffin perhaps surprisingly struggled to put away the promising Filip Krajinovic. Goffin will need to up his game to have any chance however I do feel he’ll make the Columbian play enough balls to extract enough errors to get the win. Goffin 4 sets
Jack Sock vs. Pablo Carreno Busta
Stefano:
Both players had quite impressive wins in 1st round: Sock managed to give top 15 player Dimitrov the boot, and Carreno literally destroyed Estrella in a match that on paper should have been much closer. A contrast of styles on court: the bigger power of the American against the consistency of the Spaniard. I think this could be the right year for Sock to break into the top 20 and a good result in Paris will help him in reaching this goal. Sock in 4 sets
Niall:
Jack Sock sent Dimitrov packing in straight sets in round one so you know he can play on the dirt. The American’s heavy top spin forehand suits the clay and is a huge weapon. Carreno Busta doesn’t have many weapons but the Spaniard is a solid clay courter. If Sock doesn’t play well then Carreno Busta can take advantage, but the American should have too much firepower for the Spaniard. Sock in 3 sets
Jason:
Sock’s maiden and only singles title thus far came out of the blue earlier this year in Houston on the clay, since then he’s struggled on the European clay courts which isn’t the best news for him on paper given his next round opponent is a clay specialist. Nonetheless Carreno Busta has had a disappointing European clay court season thus far himself and despite being on tour for a few years now it’s clear he still hasn’t fully made the transition from Challengers to the ATP tour. With Sock’s more threatening game and stunning form he showed in beating the No.10 seed Dimitrov in straights in the first round, it’s logical to think he’ll have very little trouble with the Spaniard. Sock in 3 sets
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