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
Arthur Fils vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Andreas Pelekis: One of the best matchups of the first round, two players who love the dirt will duke it out in a hopefully high quality battle. Fils won his first title in Lyon last week, and certainly has the game to make the second week. Davidovich Fokina brings a lot of exciting variety to the clay courts, yet often breaks down in long best-of-5 matches. Fils should wear the Spaniard out to win this one.
Prediction: Fils in 4
Yeshayahu Ginsburg: Arthur Fils is the next big thing in France, and he’s going to have the crowd on his side. Is that enough to overcome the talent difference in this one right now? Probably not, but it should be a lot of fun on the way.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 5
Damian Kust: What a match. Aesthetically pleasing for sure, hopefully competitive. I know he’s just won his first ATP Tour title on clay, but Fils is still more dangerous in quicker conditions and vulnerable to fast players who can shrink the court. Along with the mental and physical fatigue from Lyon, not sure if he can win three sets here.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 4
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Ilya Ivashka vs Alex de Minaur
Andreas: It’s been a steady clay court season for De Minaur, but he’s certainly capable of playing much better on the dirt. Clay has never been his best surface, and he’s failed to make it past the second round at this event. Ivashka made his top 50 debut last year, but fell out of the top 80 amid a rough loss of form. The Australian should edge through.
Prediction: De Minaur in 4
Yesh: Alex de Minaur has never quite reached his potential, but he’s slowly getting there yet again. Ilya Ivashka’s serve is enough to disrupt anyone’s rhythm, but I’ll trust the Australian to get into enough rallies to make things work.
Prediction: de Minaur in 4
Damian: De Minaur has worked on his clay game a lot over the years, but this year didn’t really reap the rewards. He gets a great draw here though with an out-of-form Ivashka. De Minaur lost in the opening round in Paris last year and shouldn’t make that mistake once again.
Prediction: de Minaur in 3
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Marcos Giron vs Hamad Medjedovic
Andreas: Medjedovic is making his grand slam debut, qualifying for the main draw and taking out the number four seed throughout the process. Both Giron and Medjedovic are consistent players, and this match should be a long one. Giron’s experience in grand slams should pull him through, as the American is looking for his first big run at a major.
Prediction: Giron in 4
Yesh: Medjedovic did well to qualify here, but Giron is more talented and brings his best in the Majors. Still, anything can happen with two players that aren’t always so elite.
Prediction: Giron in 5
Damian: What a test for the youngster, who’s really as talented as they come, but still so far from an unfinished product. Will the brutal power let him hit through a very solid opponent? The romantic in me wants to say yes, the realist is not certain about Medjedovic’s patience (and fitness too) holding up.
Prediction: Medjedovic in 5
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Frances Tiafoe vs Filip Krajinovic
Andreas: Tiafoe is 1-7 at the French Open, and certainly wants to improve that record this tournament. Krajnovic is no easy task for a first-round match, but Tiafoe should have too much firepower in this matchup. This could easily go five sets if Tiafoe doesn’t bring his best tennis from the start.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 4
Yesh: Tiafoe has been solid since his US Open semifinal run last year, though not quite at that level. Still, he brings his best in the biggest events, so expect another run here.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 4
Damian: Krajinovic losing to Adrian Mannarino on clay last week was really unsettling to watch. If that’s the form he’s taking into Roland Garros, I can’t really pick him to win this. Not that Tiafoe has been particularly astonishing himself, but he has a decent draw and should progress here.
Prediction: Tiafoe in 4
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
