Day 1 at Roland Garros, the 2026 French Open, continues with an intriguing mix of home hopes, dangerous floaters, and title contenders beginning their campaigns. From stylistic battles on clay to blockbuster names under the spotlight, our writers break down the matchups and offer their predictions.
French Open Day 1 Men’s Predictions
Quentin Halys vs Mattia Bellucci
Cizu Harbor:
The Frenchman has not been at his best recently, and Mattia Bellucci should feel confident about his chances here. The Italian enjoyed a couple of strong wins in Rome, and if he can reproduce that level on clay in Paris, he looks capable of coming through.
Prediction: Bellucci in 4
Tope Oke:
Quentin Halys arrives with some encouraging signs of progress this season, though inconsistency continues to undermine him. Mattia Bellucci enters with momentum of his own and the type of variety that can frustrate opponents on clay. Halys will try to use home support and aggressive first-strike tennis to impose himself, but Bellucci’s ability to disrupt rhythm could make this a momentum-heavy contest decided by narrow margins.
Prediction: Halys in 5
Zain Mustafa:
This matchup pits Quentin Halys’ aggressive shotmaking against the left-handed speed and clay-court instincts of Mattia Bellucci. While Halys should benefit from home support, Bellucci appears to hold several stylistic advantages, particularly on slower clay where his movement and patterns fit naturally.
Prediction: Bellucci in 4
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Damir Dzumhur
Cizu:
You never quite know what to expect from Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and recent form raises some concerns. That said, against a player like Damir Dzumhur, the Spaniard should still have enough quality over best-of-five sets to progress.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 4
Tope:
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina enters Paris with questions surrounding his clay form, but the matchup against Damir Dzumhur arrives at a favorable time. The Bosnian still has flashes of the counterpunching game that once troubled elite opponents, yet sustained success has been difficult to find recently. Davidovich Fokina’s greater ceiling on clay should ultimately separate the two.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 4
Zain:
Damir Dzumhur showed last year that he can still make life difficult for top players when his counterpunching clicks, but Alejandro Davidovich Fokina should have enough variety, movement, and shot tolerance to navigate a potentially awkward opening-round assignment.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 4
Titouan Droguet vs Jakub Mensik
Cizu:
Titouan Droguet enters via wildcard and will have strong crowd backing, but Jakub Mensik should still possess more than enough quality to avoid a serious scare despite inconsistent recent form.
Prediction: Mensik in 3
Tope:
Titouan Droguet arrives at his home Slam with a point to prove and will look to drag Jakub Mensik into physical exchanges where recent struggles on clay may become a factor. However, Mensik remains the more explosive player with superior weapons and even a previous win over Droguet. His serve may prove decisive.
Prediction: Mensik in 5
Zain:
Playing in front of a home crowd, Titouan Droguet should swing freely with little pressure attached. Yet Mensik’s physical issues and inconsistency notwithstanding, the Czech’s serving advantage and greater firepower make him the favorite to advance.
Prediction: Mensik in 4
Novak Djokovic vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Cizu:
It remains difficult to gauge Novak Djokovic’s level after limited clay-court preparation, but Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard is likely to trouble him only with his serve. As the match settles, Djokovic should gradually take control and move through comfortably enough.
Prediction: Djokovic in 4
Tope:
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s huge serve can unsettle anyone, but beyond that, consistency has been elusive since his early-season form spike. Djokovic may still be rediscovering sharpness after a stop-start clay buildup, yet his baseline control and problem-solving remain elite, especially on slower courts.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3
Zain:
Novak Djokovic begins another Grand Slam campaign in pursuit of history against a dangerous server in Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The Frenchman’s best hope lies in feeding off the crowd and serving at an exceptional level, but on clay, Djokovic’s movement and baseline superiority should leave him firmly in control.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
