Predicted Winners in BOLD

This is quite a slate of matches for Day 1

[2] Roger Federer (SUI) vs Alejandro Falla (COL) – Federer has a pretty ideal draw in Paris.  A win on Sunday means Roger would only have to win 6 matches over the traditional 2 weeks of the event to take the title.  Falla is not an ideal first round draw.  They have had 3 consecutive tough matches on grass including Federer’s 7-6, 7-6 win last year at Halle.  I think Roger wins in 3 or 4 rugged sets, but this is a tough first match for the world #2.

[14] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. [Q] Christian Lindell (SWE) – Tsonga should win this match.  If he plays his way into form in the first week, Tsonga could be tough in the second week.

[8] Stan Wawrinka (SUI)  vs. Marsel Ilhan (TUR) – Stan showed a little of his old form in Rome.  I think Wawrinka is more suited to 3 of 5 set matches.  That bodes well for him making it through the first week.

[5] Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) – My gut says this could be tricky.

[19] Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs. Florian Mayer (GER) – This should be a fun match.  I could see it going either way.

[24] Ernests Gulbis (LAT) vs. Igor Sijsling (NED) – Gulbis has been struggling.  Will he turn it around with memories of last year’s semifinal run?  I am guessing not.

[22] Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs Go Soeda (JPN) – As well as Murray is playing, Kohlschreiber must also be playing quite well.  His variety is a big asset on clay.

[WC] Nicolas Mahut (FRA) vs. [Q] Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) – I love Mahut’s grit, but his game is ill suited for clay.

[Q] Elias Ymer (SWE) vs. Lukas Rosol (CZE) – This should be fun.

[26] Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) vs Steve Johnson (USA) – This is a 50-50 match.  I love Johnson’s tenacity and game, but GGL is also a rugged fighter who is perhaps more suited for clay than Johnson.

Damir Dzumhur (BIH) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) – Has Youzhny hit his expiration date on the main tour?

Marcel Granollers (ESP) vs. [Q] Matthias Bachinger (GER)

[25] Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)

Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) vs. Dudi Sela (ISR)

Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) vs. Pablo Andujar (ESP)

Dusan Lajovic (SRB) vs. Maximo Gonzalez (ARG)