We've got three picks from the French Open second round today, and honestly there are some interesting stories across all three matches. Clay in Paris tends to play quite slow this time of year, and that's going to shape a couple of these results.
French Open Predictions
Tomas Machac vs Alexander Zverev
Head-to-head: Zverev leads 1-0
Machac is one of the more watchable players on tour right now and he's capable of beating anyone on a good day, but Zverev on slow clay is a genuinely difficult puzzle to solve. The heavy conditions drag points out, and that's exactly where Zverev's game gets dangerous, because he's become so good at not panicking in long rallies and his forehand gets heavier the slower the court plays.
Their only previous meeting went Zverev's way, and I don't see a different outcome here. Machac might nick a set if he's firing, which is why this goes three.
Prediction: Zverev in 3
Felix Auger Aliassime vs Daniel Altmaier
Head-to-head: 2-2
That 2-2 record is a little misleading because Altmaier grinds out clay matches in ways that frustrate players who want to play at pace, and FAA can sometimes get impatient when things aren't clicking. That said, Aliassime has looked much sharper this season and his serve gives him free points that Altmaier simply can't manufacture the same way. The slow Paris conditions are a slight concern because they favor Altmaier's game of just keeping the ball in play forever, but I think FAA's quality gets him through in the end.
Prediction: Aliassime in 3
Ignacio Buse vs Andrey Rublev
Head-to-head: First meeting
Rublev has been struggling for form for a while now, and his results this season, which have been genuinely alarming for a player of his ranking, tell a pretty clear story. Hard to see this being competitive at all. Buse at 57 in the world is no pushover on clay and has had a solid year. The pick here is Buse, and given Rublev's current state, it's not as shocking as the rankings suggest. We'll see if Rublev can find something, but right now there's not much to suggest he will and Buse should still find a way to get through here.
Prediction: Buse in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire