Before each day of play at the French Open, we'll preview and predict three must-see matches. For full coverage of the season's second Slam, go to our tournament page.
First up in Lenglen is this intriguing intergenerational battle. At 24, Halep is the hardened veteran in this matchup, while the 18-year-old Osaka plays the role of the upstart. But this isn’t the Japanese woman’s first Grand Slam rodeo; she reached the third round at the Australian Open this year, before losing to Victoria Azarenka. On paper, the sixth-ranked and much more experienced Halep should take care of the 101st-ranked Osaka in similar straight-set fashion, but we haven’t seen the best of the teen yet. She’ll be able to hit with Halep, and she may control the rallies. If she can also control her nerves, anything can happen.
Winner: Halep
The Frenchman and the Aussie know each other well; they’ve played six times since 2014. The most memorable of those meetings came at Wimbledon: In 2014, Kyrgios saved nine match points in beating Gasquet 10-8 in the fifth; the following year, Gasquet got his revenge in a close and entertaining four-setter. What kind of show will they put on in front of an excitable crowd in Chatrier? That may depend on how much Kyrgios is willing to stir the French-fan pot; it’s not a group that most pros want to rile up. As far as the match itself goes, Gasquet has won their two meetings on clay in straight sets, but this is a different Kyrgios he’s facing. The last time they met, in Marseille earlier this year, the Aussie won easily.
Winner: Kyrgios
Once again, the Bullring will resound with baseline cannon fire. Nishikori vs. Verdasco, a battle of no-holds-barred shot-makers, both of whom like to play offense a lot more than they like to play defense, was made for this circular firing range. Nishikori is the favorite for a number of reasons: He’s six years younger, ranked 46 spots higher, and he won the only meeting that took place between them in the last five years, in Indian Wells in 2015. But Verdasco still has his moments: He won a tournament in Bucharest on dirt last month, and he played some of the season’s most jaw-dropping tennis to beat Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open. Then he lost in the next round. It may be a matter of how long the man once known as Hot Sauce can go before he cools off.
Winner: Nishikori