A few matches to preview from the French Open second round today, and with Sinner finally back on the court after his stint away, there's plenty of interest. Let's get into it.
French Open Predictions
Alejandro Tabilo vs Valentin Vacherot
Head-to-head: Tabilo 1-0 Vacherot
Tabilo's one previous win over Vacherot doesn't tell us much on its own, but the Chilean has been one of the more underrated performers on clay this season and he brings a lot of power off both wings. Vacherot is solid and ranked higher, but his game tends to flatten out when he's under pressure and Tabilo is exactly the kind of player who applies that kind of pressure from the baseline.
I think this goes to three, with Vacherot making it competitive, but Tabilo's ball-striking should be the difference in the end.
Prediction: Tabilo in 3
Jannik Sinner vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Head-to-head: First meeting
Cerundolo is a genuine clay-court specialist and has beaten some big names on the surface, so this isn't a nothing match, but Sinner at his best is just a different level right now. He's become so good at not panicking in long rallies, and on slow clay he tends to absorb pace and redirect it with real precision, which makes him incredibly hard to hurt. Cerundolo will probably get his moments, but hard to see this being competitive at all once Sinner settles in.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
Raphael Collignon vs Ben Shelton
Head-to-head: First meeting
Collignon is ranked 64th and has shown flashes of quality, but clay is easily Shelton's worst surface and the American has struggled badly when opponents pull him into extended baseline rallies and take his serve out of the equation. That said, Collignon hasn't been consistently good enough at this level, particularly indoors where the conditions suit bigger hitters, to fully exploit that and Shelton's serve alone can bail him out of trouble on big points. I feel like this drags to three before Shelton figures it out, all things considered.
Prediction: Shelton in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire