Stefanos Tsitsipas is one of the favorites to win the French Open, he’ll look to get off to a winning start against home French player Jeremy Chardy in round 1. We have predictions for all of the matches on day 1 at the French Open, spread across four other articles. One features Pablo Andujar vs Dominic Thiem, another highlights Grigor Dimitrov vs Marcos Giron, the third headlines Kei Nishikori vs Alessandro Giannessi, and the fourth features Fabio Fognini vs Gregoire Barrere.
Norbert Gombos vs Pablo Carreno Busta
Damian Kust: The two traded their meetings last year, but both instances came indoors. Even if clay isn’t as great for Pablo Carreno Busta as for most of the Spaniards, in this particular matchup he should be able to put Norbert Gombos through a lot of work in the baseline rallies. Carreno Busta in 4
Jim Smith: Pablo Carreno Busta has not yet found his best tennis on the clay this season, with injury not helping his cause. But, assuming he is fit, the Spaniard’s rock-solid tennis makes him a very hard man to beat for all but the best in the world. Norbert Gombos is in good form, but the gulf in class here should be too big for him to bridge. Carreno Busta in 3
Miomir Kecmanovic vs Dan Evans
Damian: Dan Evans has improved a lot on clay but does this mean he is now a lock to win matches like that? Definitely not. However, combined with Miomir Kecmanovic not winning a set in his last four matches, it probably makes him a solid favorite here. Evans in 4
Jim: Dan Evans memorable run to the semifinals in Monte Carlo seems a fairly distant memory now, with the Briton having struggled to build on the momentum he generated in the Principality. Still, he has shown enough to suggest that he can pick up his first win at the French Open with Miomir Kecmanovic in perhaps the worst form of his fledgling career. Evans in 4
Corentin Moutet vs Laslo Djere
Damian: What is the importance of succeeding in competitions like Ultimate Tennis Showdown? The format’s different but you still have to win at least almost as many points as a high-quality opponent. Corentin Moutet’s serve wasn’t as much of a weakness with the rules there but if he brings that form to Paris, anything is possible. Moutet in 5
Jim: Laslo Djere remains plagued by inconsistencies, but after a miserable run of form in the midst of his clay-court campaign, the Serbian has found a measure of form in recent weeks, reaching the quarterfinals in Geneva to snap a five-match losing streak. If he can maintain the level he displayed in Switzerland, he should have just about enough to get past Moutet. Djere in 5
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Jeremy Chardy
Damian: Jeremy Chardy was having a great resurgence in the beginning of the season but switching to clay seriously slowed him down. In this matchup, he probably only has a real shot in faster conditions and not when Stefanos Tsitsipas has been playing so well of late. Tsitsipas in 3
Jim: It will be interesting to see how Stefanos Tsitsipas copes with the pressure of expectation, with many considering the Greek to be third favourite behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. But there will be tougher tests for him than Jeremy Chardy, who has not won a match at his home Slam since 2018. Tsitsipas in 3
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