Roland Garros, first round: today it’s Djokovic’s turn, engaged against Frenchman Herbert. Three Italians in the field: Darderi, Zeppieri and Cobolli.
Nole Djokovic landed in Paris with “low expectations but high hopes,” as he explained to reporters at a press conference. Still zero titles in 2024, many disappointments and a fitness that is slow in coming. In short, there are legitimate doubts about the world number one, who in any case, according to bookmakers, remains the first favorite to win this Roland Garros. Yes, because the Serb in the Slams turns.
His debut will take place on Day 3 of the Parisian Major with wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert, an experienced French tennis player who for some time now has been devoting himself more to doubles. Djokovic is fresh from the Geneva tournament, where he surrendered in the semifinals to Czech Machac: a defeat that the Belgrade native explained by saying he had some problems during the night before the match. In any case, the victory against Herbert is not in question and Nole in all probability will file it in just three sets. As for the three Italians playing today, the surprise-but no more than that, judging by the bookmakers’ odds-could be the victory of qualifier Giulio Zeppieri over world No. 22 Adrian Mannarino, who has had only one win since March and who usually does not shine on slow surfaces.
Less complicated, at least on paper, is the match that awaits Luciano Darderi: the Italo-Argentinian oriundo, who has been steadily growing since the beginning of 2024, is a clear favorite over the Australian Hijikata. He must watch out instead for Flavio Cobolli, who at the weekend came close to his first Atp final by surrendering to top ten Ruud after three sets. The class of 2003 Medjedovic knows how to make himself dangerous and proved it in the last qualifiers as well.
Everything easy for Rune and de Minaur?
The Parisian audience will be watching closely the challenge featuring rising star Mpetshi Perricard fresh from Lyon. The 2003 class, after winning his first Atp title, should also succeed in imposing himself on the experienced Goffin, who is less insidious than a few years ago.
The “earthy” Navone will most likely have an easy time against Spain’s Carreno Busta, returning after a very long injury layoff, while the all-Australian derby between Popyrin and Kokkinakis should be won by the former. Staying in Australia, Alex de Minaur in Paris also wants to lead the way and in the first round against the U.S. Michelsen victory should come without any problems. Same goes for the debut match of the Dane Holger Rune, a potential outsider, engaged against the Briton Evans. The challenge between Portugal’s Borges and the Czech Machac, on the other hand, promises to be more hard-fought: the latter is back from the Geneva final (lost to Ruud) and could suffer from some fatigue.
Roland Garros: possible winners
Navone in Navone-Carreno Busta (in 3 sets).
Mpetshi Perricard in Goffin-Mpetshi Perricard
Darderi in Hijikata-Darderi (in 3 sets)
Zeppieri in Zeppieri-Mannarino
Popyrin in Popyrin-Kokkinakis
Djokovic in Djokovic-Herbert (in 3 sets)
Roland Garros, predictions on the games
Borges-Machac (over 37.5)
Cobolli-Medjedovic (over 37.5)
Evans-Rune (under 34.5)
De Minaur-Michelsen (under 32.5)
