Predicted Winners in BOLD

Court Philippe CHATRIER (Noon start)

[15] Victoria AZARENKA (BLR) vs [31] Anastasia PAVLYUCHENKOVA (RUS) – Vika has played some of her best clay court tennis in 2021. If that trend continues, Vika should win.

[5] Stefanos TSITSIPAS (GRE) vs [12] Pablo CARRENO BUSTA (ESP) – Tsitsipas put together a great clay court season heading into the French Open. This is a great opportunity to build on two consecutive grand slam semifinal appearances and possibly reach a first major final. Having said that, PCB is a rugged competitor who could also reach the final round here. This may be Tsitsipas’ toughest obstacle before the final. I think Tsitsipas wins in 4 sets, but an upset is not impossible.

[7] Serena WILLIAMS (USA) vs [21] Elena RYBAKINA (KAZ) – Serena Williams is in a great spot to do damage in Paris in part because expectations were pretty low entering this event. She has won Roland Garros 3 times. That experience coupled with lower expectations as well as the top 2 seeds no longer being in the draw add up to a nice opportunity for a 4th Roland Garros title. Still, clay has never been her best surface so this match might get complicated.

[6] Alexander ZVEREV (GER) vs Kei NISHIKORI (JPN) – I think Zverev at this stage of each man’s career has too many weapons.

Court Suzanne LENGLEN (11 a.m.)

Tamara ZIDANSEK (SLO) vs  Sorana CIRSTEA (ROU) – The veteran can continue her unexpected run.

[20] Marketa VONDROUSOVA (CZE) vs [33] Paula BADOSA (ESP) – This could be a 3 set brawl.

[2] Daniil MEDVEDEV (RUS) vs [22] Cristian GARIN (CHI) – Medvedev was like a throwback player from the 1990s who was in the top 5 except for on a single troubling surface (Sampras on clay, Muster on grass, Bruguera on grass, etc.). For the sake of nostalgia, it might be good to have Medvedev lose, but for his sake, I think some reasonably good clay court results are going to follow this RG appearance.

Alejandro DAVIDOVICH FOKINA (ESP) vs Federico DELBONIS (ARG) – Both men have a great opportunity, but I think the youngster from Malaga finds his way into the quarterfinal round.