After a rocket of a Sunday start that saw Stefanos Tsitsipas thoroughly tested while Hubert Hurkacz and Karen Khachanov had to go five sets in their openers, Day 2 at the French Open will see top contenders Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz begin their campaigns. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Will we see a first-round upset?
French Open Day 2 Predictions
Diego Schwartzman vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Andreas Pelekis: Schwartzman has seemingly been a mainstay in the Top 20 for years, until a terrible 2023 season. He holds a dreadful 5-15 record on the season and went through multiple losing streaks. Zapata Miralles is a seed at a major for the first time in his career, and he should capitalize on this opportunity.
Prediction: Zapata Miralles in 3
Yeshayahu Ginsburg: Diego Schwartzman appears to be on the last legs of his career. But if he can find a semblance of his game, he can still hit anyone off the clay. We’ll see if he can do it now.
Prediction: Schwartzman in 4
Damian Kust: A healthy Zapata Miralles probably beats Schwartzman quite handily right now, but he retired at 0-6 0-3 in Geneva. That makes this one extremely hard to predict. I’ll trust that the Spaniard can recover and take advantage of his opponent’s ongoing slump.
Prediction: Zapata Miralles in 4
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Dusan Lajovic vs Zhang Zhizhen
Andreas: Considered Djokovic’s inferior in the world of Serbian tennis, Lajovic stunned the world when he won the Sprska Open, beating both Djokovic and Rublev. Zhang made an impressive run to the quarterfinals in Madrid, but I feel like he won’t be able to replicate that form this time around.
Prediction: Lajovic in 3
Yesh: Zhang Zhizhen might be a top player someday. He has some impressive results and keeps on playing well. But Lajovic was at the top of his game just a month ago, and if he can find that Banja Luka form again, he should cruise. Big “if,” though.
Prediction: Lajovic in 4
Damian: Zhang had a big breakthrough run in Madrid, but the unique conditions certainly played a part in that. Since then, he has been doing just average. On the clay in Paris, it feels like he won’t be able to control his power well enough to hit through such a skillful operator like Lajovic.
Prediction: Lajovic in 4
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Jack Draper vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Andreas: Etcheverry is another new face to the ATP tour, putting up a great fight against Djokovic in Rome. While Draper is the favorite on paper, he’s far too injury prone and doesn’t have enough match experience this clay season.
Prediction: Etcheverry in 4
Yesh: Jack Draper is a future star, and his clay progress this year is just stunning. The Brit will be a breakout very soon, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he starts showing the world this French Open.
Prediction: Draper in 4
Damian: One of the matches of the round. Draper looked fit in Lyon, although that’s never really a certainty with him. He’ll be excellent on clay in the future and that future is kinda here already. Etcheverry is a monster too though and probably the more reliable of the two at this point in time.
Prediction: Etchevery in 5
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Denis Shapovalov vs Brandon Nakashima
Andreas: It’s been a dreadful year for Canadian tennis, highlighted by inconsistency from Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime. While Nakashima hasn’t been at his best recently, he has a far more consistent game than the Canadian. If Shapovalov brings his best tennis, he would easily be the favorite. I feel that the Canadian won’t be able to bring that high level he possesses this time around.
Prediction: Nakashima in 3
Yesh: Brandon Nakashima is playing the best tennis of his life and consistently improving. Shapovalov is stuck, and for some reason can’t find his best form anymore. Clear upset recipe here.
Prediction: Nakashima in 4
Damian: Who knows what to expect from Shapovalov right now, especially as he’s never done that well in Paris, even in seasons which were so much better for him. With Nakashima finally catching some momentum himself in Lyon last week, gotta go with the ultra-solid American here.
Prediction: Nakashima in 4
Main Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
