Each day this week, we'll preview and predict three must-see matches at the French Open.
There’s death, there are taxes, and there are court-assignment controversies in Paris. On Monday, nine-time champion Nadal and his talented French opponent will play in the second-biggest arena in Paris, Court Suzanne Lenglen. Tournament officials elected to put the defending champion, Novak Djokovic, in Chatrier, despite the fact that he’s playing a Spaniard, Marcel Granollers.
If they keep winning, Nadal and Djokovic are sure to switch back and forth between the show courts more than once. For now, what matters is how Rafa and Paire react to what will be a raucous pro-French crowd in that intimate space. Nadal has been in Lenglen many times before, of course, and has yet to lose. He’s also 2-0 against Paire. In theory, though, the Frenchman has a game that could challenge Rafa: He’s tall, and he can move forward and hit winners with his two-handed backhand. He’ll need to hit more of them than he’s ever hit before to win three sets on Monday.
Winner: Nadal