Each day during the French Open, we'll preview—and predict the winner of—three of the most compelling men's matches.
Grigor Dimitrov vs. (17) Richard Gasquet
—Head-to-Head: Gasquet leads 1-0
One-handed backhand aficionados should flock to this clash of ultra-talented stylists prone to flights of whimsy. Dimitrov’s sweep of Donald Young was just his fourth career Grand Slam win, but he showed Top 20 talent in defeating Tomas Berdych earlier this year in Miami. The 21-year-old Bulgarian also appears to be fitter and more vigilant on serve these days. Nerves have plagued the Frenchman in past Paris performances, and the pressure will again be on Gasquet, once touted as “Baby Federer”, a nickname some now assign to Dimitrov. Gasquet is the more consistent player, generally guards his serve better, beat Dimitrov in their lone meeting, and is capable of making his fourth round-of-16 run in his last five majors.
The Pick: Gasquet in four sets.
(12) Nicolas Almagro vs. Marcos Baghdatis
—Head to Head: Never played
Though they were born two months apart, this marks the first pro meeting between Almagro and Baghdatis. It’s an intriguing match-up because both men are shotmakers who have underachieved in majors recently: Baghdatis, a former Australian Open runner-up, reached his last major quarterfinal five years ago, while Almagro's best results are two French Open quarterfinals—in 30 Grand Slam appearances. Baghdatis trained in Paris as a junior, and if he can burst out of the blocks quickly, apply pressure, and get the crowd behind him, he can stretch the Spaniard. But Almagro is the more accomplished clay-court player—he led the ATP with 32 clay-court wins last year, and has two titles on dirt to his credit this year—and should prevail.
The Pick: Almagro in four sets.
Tommy Haas vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky
—Head to Head: Never played
Veteran survivors who can play all-court tennis square off in what should be an entertaining encounter. Stakhovsky staved off 16th-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov in five sets in the first round, while the 112th-ranked Haas, who won three matches to qualify for the main draw, dispatched Filippo Volandri weeks after he failed to qualify for Houston. Sooner or later, the clay grind may catch up with Haas’ 34-year-old legs, but this is an experienced, albeit sometimes volatile, former No. 2 who nearly knocked Roger Federer out of the 2009 tournament he would eventually win. If Haas can navigate the potential heavy conditions and a tricky opponent, he should advance to face the Gasquet-Dimitrov winner in the third round.
The Pick: Haas in five sets.