Before each day of play at the French Open, we'll preview and predict three (or, in some cases, four) must-see matches. For full coverage of the season's second Slam, go to our tournament page.
Is Stan starting to look ominous again? After wandering aimlessly through the biggest events of the spring clay season, he wandered off to a little one in Geneva last week and came back with the winner’s trophy. We’ll start to get an idea of what that title meant in his opener in Paris, when he faces the man he beat in the semis in Geneva in the first match on Philippe-Chatrier Court. Wawrinka is 4-0 against the free-swinging, occasionally dangerous Czech, but two of those matches went the distance. I’m thinking Rosol at least gets under Stan’s skin in this one.
Winner: Wawrinka
It may come as a jolt to some to see that the better-known Dimitrov is the unseeded player in this first-rounder. A slow-moving, two-year swoon has taken him from the Top 10 down to No. 36, and turned him into perhaps the draw’s most dangerous floater. In truth, though, Dimitrov has never been all that dangerous at Roland Garros; His career record there is 3-5, and he’s lost in the first round each of the last two years. Coming into Paris this year, he’s also lost in the first rounds in Madrid and Rome. Troicki has been moderately better at the French over the years, and moderately better of late. Head to head, Dimitrov leads Troicki 2-1, but Troicki won their last meeting, in a third-set tiebreaker in the Sydney final in January.
Winner: Dimitrov
Judging by her history in Paris, Stephens is a virtual lock to win this. After all, Sloane has reached the fourth round at the French Open each of the last four years—it’s what she does. Judging by her history this season, though, the outcome isn’t so certain. Stephens has lost in the first round three times, she went out early in her two red-clay tune-ups this spring and she’s never played the 21-year-old, 53rd-ranked Gasparyan. Still, Sloane is 17-5 on the season and has a green-clay title in Charleston, while Gasparyan has lost her last six matches. Sloane is in the wide open bottom half of the draw, where virtually every quality player has a chance to reach the final. We’ll see if she feels any pressure being there.
Winner: Stephens
Lovers of clever court craft should adore this late-day encounter on Chatrier. Both of these guys play with patience and variety, and both know how to use the slice backhand to their advantage. And each, in his own way, is having a moment. The 29-year-old Murray comes to Roland Garros playing the best clay-court tennis of his career, and he has the best chance he’s ever had to win the title. At the same time, the 37-year-old Stepanek, who is now ranked No. 129 and who had to qualify for the main draw, is enjoying a last-hurrah Indian summer in the spring. Murray leads their head to head 6-2, but the slippery Stepanek has troubled him in their last two meetings. In 2014, Stepanek beat Murray at Queen’s Club, and three weeks ago in Madrid he pushed him to a third set.
Winner: Murray