A few interesting second-round picks from Paris today, and honestly there's more intrigue here than you'd expect from a clay Masters draw. Let's get into it.
French Open Predictions
Flavio Cobolli vs Learner Tien
Head-to-head: Cobolli 0-1 Tien
Tien beat Cobolli earlier this year and will come in with a mental edge because of it. Cobolli is a decent clay-court player and ranked higher, but the Italian hasn't quite found the consistency to back that ranking up, and Tien has been one of the more impressive young Americans on tour lately. Clay isn't Tien's best surface, but he moves well enough to stay in rallies and make Cobolli earn everything.
This feels like it goes three sets either way, but I think Tien's ability to stay composed in tight moments gives him the better shot at closing it out.
Prediction: Tien in 3
Joao Fonseca vs Novak Djokovic
Head-to-head: First meeting
Fonseca is one of the most exciting young players we've seen come through in years, and this is a genuinely fascinating first meeting. But Djokovic on clay is still one of the most reliable things in tennis and he's been rebuilding his form steadily after the knee surgery. Fonseca will get his moments and probably a set's worth of brilliant tennis out of himself, but Novak's ability to slow the match down and make it a chess match on clay is something almost nobody handles well, let alone a 18-year-old in just his second or third Masters main draw.
Djokovic wins this, and I wouldn't be shocked if it's closer than expected.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3
Alex De Minaur vs Jakub Mensik
Head-to-head: De Minaur 5-0 Mensik
Five from five is a pretty remarkable number against a player of Mensik's quality, and it tells you something real about how De Minaur's speed and retrieval disrupts the Czech's big-hitting game. Mensik loves to dictate with his serve and forehand, but De Minaur gets everything back and never lets him settle. That pattern has played out five times already, including on clay earlier this season.
Mensik is a better player than he was even six months ago, so a set here is not impossible. That said, De Minaur should get through comfortably enough, all things considered.
Prediction: Minaur in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire