Predicted Winners in BOLD
Court Philippe-Chatrier (11 a.m. start)
[4] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) vs [27]Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) – The defending champion seems to have found an ideal time for shaking off a 52 week hangover from winning the 2016 French Open.
Venus came close in 2002 – could 2017 be the year?
[10] Venus Williams (USA) vs Elise Mertens (BEL) – Venus winning her 1st Roland Garros title would be an amazing story. I am not sure it can happen, but she should have a chance at going deep.
Court Suzanne Lenglen
[13] Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) vs Shelby Rogers (USA)
[11] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs Catherine Bellis (USA) – In each of the two matches on Lenglen, I think the seeded player draws upon experience to advance.
Court 1
[8] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs [32] Shuai Zhang (CHN) – Kuznetsova winning a 2nd Roland Garros title seems far more possible in 2017 than it did in 2014.
[30] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) vs [LL] Ons Jabeur (TUN) – The lucky loser has made great use of her luck. Still, this looks like the end of road.
Court 2
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) vs Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) – These two unseeded players might produce the most compelling match of Friday’s slate.
Court 3
[23] Samantha Stosur (AUS) vs [Q] Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) – I keep picking against Stosur, and she keeps winning. Why mess with a pattern?
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 