Predicted Winners in BOLD

Singles – First Round

[1]Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Robby Ginepri (USA) – Robby is the only active male US born player to have reached a Grand Slam semifinal.  He won’t be repeating that accomplishment at the 2014 French Open.

Joao Sousa (POR) vs. [2]Novak Djokovic (SRB) – Novak is almost a co-favorite after his Rome victory over Nadal.

[3]Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) – I don’t have many seeds losing, but #3 going down would be a big story.

Martin Klizan (SVK) vs. [9]Kei Nishikori (JPN) – Kei is one of the top 5 contenders for this title IF he can hold up physically.

Andreas Beck (GER) vs. [14]Fabio Fognini (ITA) – Fognini is a wildcard, but he can play on the dirt.

[17]Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. James Ward (GBR) – Robredo is one of the most admirable competitors on tour.  He is always prepared and in shape.

Lukasz Kubot (POL) vs. [18]Ernests Gulbis (LAT) – Gulbis has had a very nice 2014.  He is unpredictable and could lose here, but recent form suggests Gulbis advances.

Stephane Robert (FRA) vs. [19]Kevin Anderson (RSA) – Anderson has also had a nice 2014.  I don’t think he makes a deep run on clay, but I expect him to win a match or two at least.

Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) vs. [27]Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) – No one saw Agut coming in Australia.  His semifinal run in Madrid makes him someone to watch in Paris.

(25) Marin Cilic vs. Pablo Andujar – I like Andujar in a mild upset.

Ante Pavic (CRO) vs. [29]Gilles Simon (FRA) – Simon should draw confidence from his clash with Nadal in Rome (did that match ever end?).

Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs. [30]Vasek Pospisil (CAN) – I like both players, but Canadians are on fire as of late.

Paul-Henri Mathieu vs. Dominic Thiem – I think Mathieu wins to set up the banana rematch.  Plantain’s this time around?

(21) Nicolas Almagro vs. Jack Sock – Almagro is going to win this match.

(11) Grigor Dimitrov vs. Ivo Karlovic – Dimitrov should have enough time to figure out how to break down Ivo’s serve and overall game.

(32) Andreas Seppi vs. Santiago Giraldo -Giraldo in a very mild upset.

Damir Dzumhur vs. (26) Feliciano Lopez – Lopez’ fitness should cary him through even if Dzumhur offers resistance.

(23) Gael Monfils vs. Victor Hanescu – Monfils with some dance contest momentum?

(12) Richard Gasquet vs. Bernard Tomic – How does one make any sense of this match?  I’ll take Gasquet because it is on clay and in France, but Gasquet’s form that led him to the US Open semifinal last year is long gone.

Lleyton Hewitt vs. Carlos Berlocq – Berlocq is on his favored surface and just won a title.  Hewitt is Hewitt and has more experience in 3 out of 5 set affairs.  I’ll take Rusty if he can extend the match and make it less about clay court acumen and more about overall match play skills.

Marinko Matosevic vs. Dustin Brown – Dredy Lives

Alejandro Falla vs. Benoit Paire – This is a 50-50 match.

Nicolas Mahut vs. Mikhail Kukushkin – I don’t see Mahut winning many matches on clay.

Lukas Rosol vs. Jiri Vesely – Czech duel

Michael Russell vs. Alejandro Gonzalez – Good for Russell to still be battling out there, but I think winning 3 out of 5 is not likely.

Robin Haase vs. Nikolay Davydenko – I’ll take Hasse just because Davy seems way past his prime.

Miloslav Mecir vs. Tobias Kamke – The Big Cat 2.0 is not going to win.

Steve Johnson vs. Laurent Lokoli – It is a long-shot, but I think the home crowd and surface make a difference here.