French Open Day Two Preview

The second day of the French Open is nearly on us. Here is what to look forward to on day 2.

Court Phillip Chatrier:

Stan Wawrinka Vs Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Wawinka won in Madrid but looked a little shaky in the remaining Clay court events. Garcia Lopez is the title winner in Casablanca and made the quarters in Monte Carlo, taking a set off Djokovic.  While Wawrinka leads the head to head 4-2, both of Lopez’ wins come on clay and if Wawrinka is not at his best, he could be in a lot of trouble.

Court Suzanne Lenglen:

Dominika Cibulkova Vs Virginie Razzano

The 2009 semi-finalist Cibulkova comes up against the woman who knocked Serena Williams out of the first round in 2012. Expect a very loud Parisian crowd to push Razzano hard and for Razzano to push Cibulkova even harder.

Rafael Nadal versus Robert Ginepri

Worth watching to see Ginepri back in action in a big slam match for the first time since 2005 when he made the semis of the US Open,  and to see the very strange sight of Rafael Nadal, 8 time champ and defending champion, too, opening the defense of his title not on Chatrier but on Lenglen.

Court 1:

Martin Klizan Vs Kei Nishikori

Klizan was the qualifier who won Munich beating Youzhny and Fognini on the way, Nishikori is the world no. 10 who so nearly beat Nadal in the Madrid final. Nishikori should win, but Klizan will make it tough, and you never know what can happen in these opening round five setters, especially as Nishikori will be playing his first slam as a bona fide fav and not an outside bet.

Sloane Stephens Vs Shuai Peng

Peng can have her day, and Stephens can have her off ones. If that should be the case tomorrow, then we get the first upset in the women’s game.

Court 2:

Monica Puig vesus Samatha Stosur

Stosur was once a favorite to win the title while Puig became the first Puerto Rican to win a WTA of any kind last weekend. Stosur is far from the player who made the finals in 2010 and is ripe for the upset. Puig is in form, young and has nothing to lose.

Paul-Henri Matthieu Vs Dominic Thiem

Matthieu has been involved in some French Open epics- Nadal in 2006, Isner in 2012- while Thiem is just getting his career started. Thiem picked off Wawrinka in Madrid and Matthieu is far from his peak, ranked 90 and struggling in qualifying events. With the interest in Thiem rising amongst fans and media, and the home crowd support for Mathieu, this match promises to be the kind of early round battle at a Major fans can get their teeth into.