Roland-Garros: Son – Davidovich Fokina, Zverev – Gaston … The 10 matches we want to see in the first week

Victoria Azarenka – Bianca Andreescu

This 1st round could have been the poster of a Grand Slam final a few years ago. Double champion of the Australian Open, Victoria Azarenka had thus replayed a Major final at the US Open in 2020, a year after the dazzling triumph of Bianca Andreescu at Flushing Meadows. Still a semi-finalist in Melbourne at the start of the season, the Belarusian is still capable of great things when the sensations are still there.

Is this still the case for the Canadian? Undoubtedly, Andreescu has what it takes in the racket to annoy any player on the circuit, but her physique too often plays tricks on her. Last episode to date: a twist of the ankle in Miami as it returned to a very good level (victory over Maria Sakkari in the 2nd round). She made her return to clay in Madrid, but did not win any matches on clay. Nevertheless, the poster intrigues and deserves a look.

Diane Parry – Anhelina Kalinina

Last year, Diane Parry thrilled Roland spectators. Not only had the young Frenchwoman reached the 3rd round on Parisian clay for the first time in her career, but she had also taken out the title holder and seeded 2 at the time: Barbora Krejcikova. In a few days, the task will perhaps be less delicate on paper but she will have to achieve a feat against Anhelina Kalinina who remains in a final in Rome.

In Italy, the Ukrainian multiplied the epic marathons to defeat three Top 20 consecutively (Keys, Haddad Maia and Kudermetova), before giving up exhausted against Elena Rybakina. If she is 100% physically, she will be the big favorite against the Frenchwoman who is slow to confirm her potential on the circuit. However, form seems to be back as its success at the Clarins Trophy showed. It’s up to Parry to transcend herself again at home!

Félix Auger-Aliassime – Fabio Fognini

• 1st round, men’s singles

Fabio Fognini is no longer quite the one who triumphed in Monte-Carlo in 2019. At 35, he left the Top 100 and his career is generally behind him. But he is still capable of flashes of quality, as he showed at Foro Italico by reaching the third round after victories over Andy Murray and Miomir Kecmanovic. On clay, the Italian is always difficult to play and Félix Auger-Aliassime could have hoped for a quieter 1st round on paper.

Author of a disappointing start to the season and lacking in confidence at the moment, the Canadian did not win a match in the Masters 1000 during this spring and withdrew before his quarter-final in Lyon, touched on the shoulder. While he had pushed Rafael Nadal in the 5th set last year at Roland, he will seek above all to reassure himself in this 1st round which could turn sour if Fognini is in a good mood. Physically (if he no longer suffers from the shoulder), “F2A” will have the advantage, but beware of Italian champagne tennis.

Arthur Fils – Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

• 1st round, men’s singles

Two years after having played in the final of the junior tournament, Arthur Fils will discover the big picture of Roland-Garros. And we salivate in advance. Able to play with the public as he showed in Rome, the young Frenchman will thus be opposed from the start to another great fan of the show: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 34th in the standings this week but seeded 29th in the tournament. Never the last to dive on the court and give everything, the Spaniard had delivered an epic match against Casper Ruud in the 3rd round in 2021 then continued his journey to the quarter-finals.

The challenge will therefore be daunting for Fils. But the interested party likes big matches and will be widely supported by the spectators in his business. In Lyon this week, he still accumulated victories and confidence. And if he needed additional motivation, he could find his friend Luca Van Assche in the second round, if he defeats Marco Cecchinato (former semi-finalist in Paris). It would be quite a wink, but this 1st round already has something to delight us.

Alizé Cornet – Jessica Pegula

We are entering the domain of projection. From these lines, posters are probable or even only possible. Will Alizé Cornet have the opportunity to challenge the world number 3 in the 2nd round? Nothing guarantees it, especially since the Niçoise will already have a great threat to dismiss from the start in the person of the Italian Camila Giorgi who has won their last 5 confrontations (often in three sets). But it could be the last Roland-Garros for the 33-year-old Frenchwoman who openly discussed her future retirement last season.

Will Cornet then play with extra soul? If so, she could well be in this appointment of choice against Jessica Pegula who will also have a lot to do in the 1st round against her compatriot Danielle Collins, finalist of the Australian Open 2021. If this Pegula- Cornet takes place, the American, quarter-finalist last year will obviously be the favorite but the balance sheet between the two players, who have not crossed swords since 2020, is balanced with a victory everywhere. The French would in any case have nothing to lose.

Alexander Zverev – Hugo Gaston

• 2nd round, men’s singles

Despite rather disappointing results on the circuit, Gaston knows how to transcend himself on the big stages of France. In addition to this famous round of 16 three years ago, he had also reached the quarters at Bercy and again the 3rd round on Parisian soil last year. His tennis while changing rhythm, with abounding cushioning, is likely to disturb an Alexander Zverev who has not yet returned to his best level. The poster would look like David against Goliath. To be enjoyed without moderation.

Ugo Humbert – Lawrence Sonego

• 2nd round, men’s singles

If this 2nd round actually takes place, it would already be an event for Ugo Humbert. In four attempts, the Messin has never cleared the first obstacle at Roland. But this year may be the right one for two main reasons: firstly, the number 1 tricolor has never been so confident on ocher where he triumphed twice in Challengers in Cagliari and Bordeaux. Then, he will face his compatriot Adrian Mannarino who cannot do it on clay.

There is therefore a good chance of seeing Humbert play at least two matches next week and the second could oppose him to Lorenzo Sonego if the latter gets rid of the talented but still a little borrowed on earth Ben Shelton. This hypothetical Franco-Italian duel would look like revenge after an epic first act in Monte-Carlo. Humbert had then ended up giving in, not without having obtained four match points, in an atmosphere of fire. A game of the same ilk in five sets should not be missed under any circumstances.

Jelena Ostapenko – Daria Kasatkina

The logic of the seeds in the women’s draw suggests that Jelena Ostapenko and Daria Kasatkina will face each other in the 3rd round. Between the unexpected champion six years ago and the Russian, semi-finalist in 2022, the opposition would promise a great contrast between the power of the first and the tactical science of the second.

Moreover, the WTA 1000 in Rome gave a very recent glimpse of it. In the round of 16, the Latvian triumphed, ending on top speed an initially very balanced game (6-4, 4-6, 6-0). Semi-finalist in the Italian capital, Ostapenko is capable of the best and the worst. A little in difficulty at the start of the season, Kasatkina has regained her colors since the return to clay. In the event of a duel, the challenge for the Russian will be to find time to express her tennis. An interesting balance of power in perspective.

Jannik Sinner – Grigor Dimitrov

• 3rd round, men’s singles

He is one of the contenders for the final victory in an open 2023 edition as rarely in recent years. It would in any case be disappointing not to find Jannik Sinner at least in the quarter-finals, his glass ceiling in the Grand Slam. But before that, the Italian will have to build momentum in the first week. If he passes the obstacles Alexandre Müller and (logically) Daniel Altmaier, then he could play his place in the second week against Grigor Dimitrov.

There is no guarantee that the Bulgarian will be there as Roland-Garros has rarely inspired him. On the second lap, the obstacle Emil Ruusuvuori or Grégoire Barrère will not be easy to pass. But an inspired Dimitrov is always a treat to watch and, thanks to his full palette, he has assets to upset Sinner, in particular with his ideal backhand slice to break up the exchanges in rhythm. The Italian won their last confrontation in Miami (returning to 1-1 in their duels) but they never crossed swords on ochre. Something to arouse some curiosity.

Lorenzo Musetti – Cameron Norrie

• 3rd round, men’s singles

It would probably be one of the most balanced and intriguing posters of the 3rd round. Respectively seeded 14th and 17th in the Parisian Major, Cameron Norrie and Lorenzo Musetti are very close in the world rankings and safe bets on clay. If they are not there for this duel, it would be a real disappointment for both of them, even if Benoît Paire, the Briton’s first opponent, only dreams of preventing this meeting.

After a failed start to the 2023 season, Musetti got back in the saddle during this earthly spring with in particular a half in Barcelona, ​​a quarter in Monte-Carlo and an 8th final in Rome, jostling twice (without beating him) Stefanos Tsitsipas. His round of 16 against Novak Djokovic at Roland remains in everyone’s memory. In Catalonia, he had managed to overthrow Norrie, his left paw and his grazing crossed backhands after a good fight. On the long format, it promises! With for the winner a theoretical 8th against a certain… Carlos Alcaraz.