Roland Garros, second rounds begin: the South Tyrolean will take the court last against Frenchman Gasquet. News and predictions.
On Day 3 of Roland Garros ’24, the big star was the rain, which forced organizers into a race against time. Despite keeping the early hours, in the end all matches were played as scheduled, avoiding clogging (and messing up) the schedule. The second round begins today, with Italian number one Jannik Sinner taking the court last on the “Chatrier” to face veteran Richard Gasquet, fresh off his great performance in the first round against Croatian Coric.
For the 37-year-old from Beziers, these are the last remnants of a career in which he would certainly have deserved to achieve some more satisfaction. Sinner’s victory does not seem to be in question, although the experienced and elegant transalpine tennis player could give him a hard time. The South Tyrolean appeared a bit rusty in the opener with the American Eubanks, downed in three sets, but the most important thing is that he did not experience any hip discomfort. The other Italians involved today are Lorenzo Sonego and Matteo Arnaldi. The Piedmontese after a series of disappointing performances raised his head again by folding Frenchman Humbert in four sets and playing perhaps his best match of the year. Now for him there is the Chinese Zhang, world number 44 and very fearsome on clay: an absolutely uncertain match in which Sonego could suffer from the powerful strokes of the Asian, who already defeated him last year on grass. He will have to deal with another Frenchman instead Arnaldi after his fine victory over Fils (3-1). The Ligurian will face wild card Alexandre Muller, someone who knows his stuff on the crushed brick and who could drag the match all the way to the fifth set.
Everything easy for Alcaraz and Tsitsipas?
As for the other scheduled matches, today it is also Carlos Alcaraz’s turn, number three in the world and one of the main favorites for the final victory. The Spaniard took no risks in his opener with American Wolf and should take none with Dutchman de Jong either: a three-set victory for the Murciano is likely.
Stefanos Tsitsipas instead will face German Daniel Altmaier, who last year in Paris surprisingly took Sinner’s scalp. The Greek is favored but should not underestimate the Teutonic player, who in any case has not had a great season on red. The one who could subvert the odds is Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, who will almost certainly engage in a bitter battle with the veteran Grigor Dimitrov, who is always very inconsistent. Stan Wawrinka at almost 40 years of age wants nothing to do with hanging up his racket, and after winning the “old glory” duel with Andy Murray will play his chances against Russian Kotov. Finally, one to keep an eye on in this Slam is Belgian Zizou Bergs, who will have no problem settling German Marterer.
Roland Garros: possible winners
Zhang in Sonego-Zhang.
Bergs in Bergs-Marterer
Marozsan in Marozsan-Dimitrov
Moutet in Moutet-Shevchenko
Wawrinka in Kotov-Wawrinka
Roland Garros, predictions on the games
Altmaier-Tsitsipas (over 30.5)
Muller-Arnaldi (over 38.5)
Ofner-Baez (over 36.5)
de Jong-Alcaraz (under 27.5)
Gasquet-Sinner (over 29.5)