{"id":67814,"date":"2024-05-27T17:37:40","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T21:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=67814"},"modified":"2024-05-27T17:37:40","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T21:37:40","slug":"french-open-day-3-mens-predictions-djokovic-herbert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2024\/05\/27\/french-open-day-3-mens-predictions-djokovic-herbert\/","title":{"rendered":"French Open Day 3 Men’s Predictions Including Novak Djokovic vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first round of men’s singles at the French Open wraps up on Day 3. To conclude the round, we are treated to 20 matches on Tuesday. As always, our writers here at LastWordOnTennis share their thoughts on all of the matches. We split the day’s 20 matches between this and four other articles. The other articles feature Alexander Bublik vs Gregoire Barrere<\/a>, Casper Ruud vs Felipe Meligeni Alves<\/a>, David Goffin vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard<\/a>, and Holger Rune vs Dan Evans<\/a>. Predicting today’s matches are Jim Smith, Jordan Reynolds, and Damian Kust. Who do you think will advance?<\/p>\n

French Open Day 3 Predictions<\/h2>\n

Roberto Carballes Baena vs Constant Lestienne<\/h4>\n

Jim:<\/em>
\nThere isn\u2019t much between this pair on paper. But Roberto Carballes Baena is probably the more accomplished clay-courter and he is also having a better year than Constant Lestienne. The advantage of playing on home turf might be enough to see Lestienne into the second round, but the Spaniard looks the likelier winner.
\nPrediction: Carballes Baena in 4<\/em><\/p>\n

Jordan:<\/em>
\nLestienne is the kind of player who can suddenly come alive when it is not expected. He will need to do that against his Spanish opponent, who is usually rock solid on clay. Lestienne becoming inspired is not impossible,but not quite likely enough for me to back him against Carballes Baena.
\nPrediction: Carballes Baena in 4<\/em><\/p>\n

Damian:<\/em>
\nLestienne has barely been healthy this year, but has at least managed to get two clay matches in just before the event. He likely won\u2019t have enough to take down Carballes Baena and yet maybe with the home crowd that\u2019s a possibility we can\u2019t exclude. It would require him to really step up his game though.
\nPrediction: Carballes Baena in 4<\/em><\/p>\n

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Taylor Fritz vs Federico Coria<\/h4>\n

Jim:<\/em>
\nTaylor Fritz is still probably more at home on the grass and hard courts than the red clay, but he has made impressive strides on the surface and will surely be targeting a place in the second week. Federico Coria might test him if the Argentine can find his best tennis, but Fritz\u2019s power should give him a decisive edge.
\nPrediction: Fritz in 4<\/em><\/p>\n

Jordan:<\/em>
\nFritz has improved hugely on clay and early Grand Slam upsets in the early rounds on the dirt are less of a concern than previously. Coria\u2019s determined style is the same every match and he will make Fritz work to win a lot of the points. But that will not be enough to overcome the American\u2019s firepower.
\nPrediction: Fritz in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Damian:<\/em>
\nOne is a clay-court specialist and the other isn\u2019t, but it still feels like the quality gap here is pretty huge. Fritz suffered an early exit to Alex Michelsen in Geneva last week in an otherwise stellar clay season. Coria\u2019s fine and loves this surface, but there\u2019s not much he can really stand up to Fritz with.
\nPrediction: Fritz in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

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