Two to Preview, Day 5: Iga Swiatek returns to Chatrier; Frances Tiafoe eyes third round

WATCH: Gael Monfils thrilled Court Phillippe-Chatrier Tuesday with a comeback win over Sebastian Baez that finished after midnight on Wednesday.

Iga Swiatek vs. Claire Liu

Are we due for another Swiatek blowout on Court Philippe Chatrier? Possibly. She’s ranked 101 places above her American opponent, and the last time she played her, in Indian Wells in March, she won 6-0, 6-1. After a relatively slow start in her first match, against Cristina Bucsa, the defending champ quickly rounded back into bone-crushing form to win the second set 6-0.

Despite that, Liu has some positive history at Roland Garros and against Swiatek. Liu made the girls’ final here, in 2017, on her way to becoming the No. 1 junior in the world. And in her only other professional match against Swiatek, in Auckland in 2018, she took a set from her. That’s not a whole lot to hang your visor on, but if you’re playing Swiatek in the early round of a major these days, you’ll take it. Winner: Swiatek

Frances Tiafoe vs. Aslan Karatsev

The first meeting between the American and the Russian should be tailor-made for lively Court Simonne-Mathieu. Each of these guys is an athlete and a shot-maker, and the match should be competitive. Tiafoe is currently ranked 50 spots ahead of Karastsev—No. 12 to 62—but both have enjoyed some surprising success during this clay season. Tiafoe won the title in Houston, and Karatsev came out of qualifying to reach the semifinals in Madrid.

Karastev has again qualified at Roland Garros, and looked good in his first-round win over Alexei Popyrin. But Tiafoe may have looked even better in beating Filip Krajinovic in straight sets. Now he’ll get an upgrade court-wise and atmosphere-wise, which he’ll surely do his best to make the most of. Winner: Tiafoe

Holger Rune vs. Gael Monfils

EDITOR'S NOTE: Monfils withdrew from Roland Garros with a wrist injury after this story was originally published.

Thursday’s most highly anticipated match will go on last, in the night session in Chatrier. Where will else would you put Monfils, after the energy he stirred up there on Tuesday night?

Can the 36-year-old Frenchman, who pronounced himself “dead” in the fourth set of that match, rise again? It will be harder. His last opponent, Sebastian Baez, is a dogged competitor who gave away nothing. But Rune is a cut above. He hits bigger than Baez; he has a lot of confidence after making three finals during this clay-court season; and he’ll be motivated by the fact that the top seed in his half, Daniil Medvedev, is out of the tournament. And he’s not a guy who shrinks from a fight. If anything, he’ll stir the pot even more. Monfils’ best hope may be that the moment proves too much for the still-easily-agitated 20-year-old. Winner: Rune