With the French Open kicking off Sunday, the tennis writers of VAVEL USA have gotten together for a roundtable. Who are their favorites, dark horses, champions? Who is going to get upset early? Find out below as you read who the fellow writers of VAVEL think will be lifting up the Coupe des Mousquetaires on the men's side. Click here to see the French Open Women's Roundtable
1. Who is your favorite for the title in Paris? Why?
Noel Alberto: My favorite for the title has to be Novak Djokovic. Yes, yes I know Rafa is an astounding 66-1 on the Parisian clay, but Novak seems to be a man on a mission. His groundstrokes seem to be impeccable at the moment and has been serving much better as well. Everything seems to be clicking for the world number one at the moment making him scarily dangerous at the French.
Grace Cooper: Rafael Nadal is always the favourite, of course. He's a 9 time champion in Paris with a 66-1 win/loss record. Even though his current form isn't as good as we're used to, everything changes in Paris…I wouldn't necessarily call Djokovic a favourite, but his season has been incredible so if Rafa can't capture his 10th title, then Novak is the man to focus on.
Harry Robinson: Rafael Nadal might be the king but Novak is on his way to becoming the greatest of all time and another sweep up of a couple of Grand Slams this year. The French Open will be the first of them in my opinion. He’s on an incredible 22-match unbeaten streak and has been simply stunning on clay. Andy Murray almost got my vote to win it with victories in Munich and Madrid but because both of them have momentum, you have to give it to the better player, Novak.
Glenys Furness: Andy Murray - he has had a brilliant clay season so far
Tim Charlton: We all know he favourite for this French Open title is Novak Djokovic, he is playing superhuman tennis and there seems to be some distance between himself and the field. Does that mean he will win? Absolutely not, behind him there isn't much between the rest of the top 10 players and all of them will fancy themselves to go far.
Joely Cook: All things considered, Djokovic is the favourite for me. With his current form, 37 match winning streak through the bigger tour events in the past few months and his sweep of both clay masters titles he has played, it's hard to name any other player as more likely to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires in two weeks time. He has made no secret of his ambition to finally win Roland Garros; with Nadal's recent dip in form Djokovic will be seeking to capitalise on this opportunity and finally complete his career grand slam.
Thabet Krir: I think that Federer will win the "Coupe des Mousquetaires" because he has been playing some great tennis in those past weeks on clay and has a title in Istanbul and was a finalist in Rome. He will really bring it these next two weeks to show he can win it all.
Pedro Cunha: Definitely my favorite is Novak Djokovic. The world number one is having an amazing season and already won against Nadal on clay this year. In the French Open it’s different, but I don't think Nadal can make it this time.
Caleb Wahlgren: Well, I would have to go with the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal. Why? Why Not? Nadal has won the last 5 French Open titles and as long as his injuries are not going to hamper him, you pick the champ until he has been knocked out. Sure, there are going to be some difficult matches, but I just can't make myself pick against the man who has won 9 out of the last 10 Championships at Roland Garros.
Liam McMahon: My favorite for the tournament is Rafael Nadal. Yes, he's been in really poor form this season and Andy Murray just beat him at the final in Madrid and Nadal went out in the quarters in Rome. But, he's still the king of clay. He's always played his best tennis at Roland Garros, and there's a reason why he's won 9 of the last 10 titles in Paris. Therefore, for me, he still has to be the favorite.
Mosope Ominiyi: For me, it's got to be Novak. He's looked very impressive over the past few months and shown time and time again to be Mr. Reliable, even though the French Open is perceived to be Nadal's forté, the Spaniard is still yet to fully regain his confidence after an injury-laden 18 months. He's got a favourable draw up until the quarters at least, so there's no reason why he will not prosper in Paris.
Sam Borai: Favorite: Novak Djokovic. The stats say it all and unfortunately for the rest of the field he is in a form frighteningly close to the Djokovic we saw in 2011. The man comes in red hot, sweeping four out of 5 masters, the one he missed in Madrid is literally because he pulled out of Madrid before it started. A near flawless record against top 10 opposition with his last loss coming against Roger Federer is over 3 months ago.
2. Who is your dark horse for the title? Why?
N.A: Kei Nishikori is my dark horse for the title because a title in Barcelona and a semifinal in Madrid has showed that he can continue to be a force on the clay. He’s only made a Grand Slam quarterfinal three times in his career, but his US Open finals appearance last year should give him belief to have another deep run. The clay gives him extra time to receive balls in which he would have difficulty getting to on the hard or grass courts so his speed will be used effectively on the dirt in Paris.
G.C: Andy Murray has a great chance I believe. He's undefeated on clay this year and had a very good run in Madrid capturing the title. However, his draw is tough so Murray will have to hope luck is on his side. I also believe that Kei Nishikori is ready to take the big stage on clay. He's performed well in Madrid, Barcelona and Rome this year and is physically a lot better than last year.
H.R: Kei Nishikori could upset the apple cart in Paris. He reached the quarters in Rome and was only knocked out by Andy in Madrid. He won in Barcelona a few weeks back and going into it looks the best of the rest to challenge Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, Federer.
G.F: David Ferrer - he has been close to the very later stages before, he could get there this time
T.C: Anyone out there claiming Nadal is any sort of dark horse in this French Open is missing the entire point. He is the brightest horse out there and every eye will be on whether he will conquer again. Back to the question, my choice for dark horse without a doubt has to be David Ferrer. He barely gets mentioned or coverage when he plays well due to his less flamboyant style but is for sure one of the top 5 clay court players and with a strong 2015 I doubt there will be many players out there he won't back himself to beat.
J.C: My dark horse is Gael Monfils who is seeded 13th. His semi final showing in Monte Carlo should give him confidence, and although he did not play Rome through a knee injury he is now almost fully healed, so he shouldn't be hindered by pain. Last year he put in an impressive quarter final appearance at Roland Garros, and has beaten Federer (his potential 4th round opponent and biggest looming threat) in straight sets the past two times they have faced off. Monfils always seems to play well in Paris, and I see no reason why this year he couldn't once again seize the encouragement of the patriotic crowd to go far.
T.K: I’m going to pick Andy Murray as a dark horse because he was a very big surprise the last few weeks by winning Munich & Madrid VS. Nadal in straight sets.
P.C: My dark horse is Andy Murray. The Brit won the title in Madrid and proved that he can win a title on clay. He is 10-1 on clay this season only “loss” was to Goffin.
C.W: When it comes to a dark horse, it is difficult to figure out just who has a chance as most of the majors winners in the past few years are the consistent top players like Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer. If I'm going away from those few, I'm going with a former semifinalist and runner-up in David Ferrer. Sure, he could easily have an outside chance at the title and that is exactly why he is my dark horse. David has struggled in majors for the past few year since the French Open. Even in his most recent tournament though, he pushed Djokovic to a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
L.M: Andy Murray. Granted, it seems stupid to say that the number three seed is the "dark horse" of the tournament, but he's been playing superb tennis coming into this tournament. He just took a week off, but before that his upset of Nadal in Madrid must have been critical to boost his confidence. He's back up to number 3 in the rankings, and if Nadal doesn't win the tournament, Murray is my pick to win the whole shebang.
M.O: Although the odds will be stacked against him, Andy Murray has a decent chance of going all the way in the tournament. Not only is he feeling fit and raring to go, he's competed with, and done well against, the higher seeded players, and apart from the possibility of facing Novak early on, he should go a long way.
S.B: Dark horse: Murray. It's almost crazy to see this mans name up on any favorite list when clay is concerned but the man has made a statement coming into Paris. 10-0 record on clay this season winning his first title ever on clay in Munich. Less than a week later he follows it up with another, this time a masters trophy on the red dirt in Madrid. What tops his whole resume off is his clay court streak includes a straight sets route of Rafa Nadal in a clay court final becoming only the fourth man ever to accomplish the feat.
3. Which lower seeded player (17-32) do you think could make the quarterfinals?
N.A: The lower seeded player I think could make the quarterfinals is Leonardo Mayer. The Argentine has looked good in the last few weeks he’s played and with a potential showdown against upset prone Marin Cilic in the third round, his draw could open up should the Croat get upset. David Ferrer is going to be a tough out for the Argentine, but should Ferrer get challenged in the early rounds, look out for Mayer to take an opportunity to sneak into quarters.
G.C: Fabio Fognini. He's a very inconsistent player, but I think that if he can capture some of the form he had in Rome then he'll quite possibly reach the quarterfinal. However, he's in a quarter with Berdych and Nishikori so it's not an easy task…
H.R: Nick Kyrgios should be right up there with the big boys. He was beaten by Gasquet in the Portugal final on clay and made the round of 16 in Rome. He’s impressed since breaking onto the scene and I expect him to put in another solid Grand Slam run like in the Aussie Open. Gasquet is another with a chance of quarters with home backing and although he prevailed on Kyrgios in Portugal, I’m backing the Australian.
G.F: John Isner
T.C: This question is completely draw dependent but I would say Fabio Fognini would have the best chance of making the quarter finals. With Berdych being the huge match he would have to overcome, a potential last 16 match against Tsonga I think I would favour the Italian to win.
J.C: Personally, I believe Fabio Fognini could be a strong contender to make the latter stages of the tournament. He has produced 2 wins over Nadal this year on clay already, so he has proved when on form he is a tough player to beat. The French Open is his best grand slam as he reached the quarter final in 2011, and with the highest seeded opponent in his section of the draw up to the quarters being Tomas Berdych who he has beaten twice previously I believe Fognini has a strong chance of reaching the quarter finals.
T.K: I see that Kyrgios could secure a place in the quarterfinals. He has some big serves that even Federer had a difficult time dealing with.
P.C: I think Gasquet can.
C.W: I like going with a longshot when I think that there is an outside chance at a victory. Fernando Verdasco is ranked 32nd in the men's draw, but he faces up with Kei Nishikori in the third round, and Kei is not so great on Clay. Last year, Kei was eliminated in the opening round. Verdasco has not made a Quarterfinals since the Wimbledon in 2013. But Spaniards have historically performed well on clay and so Verdasco is my selection to try and take a step forward to the quarterfinals.
L.M: Richard Gasquet. He's a solid player, and he's French. There's something about these mystical late nights at Roland Garros that brings the best out of any player from France. Gasquet has never made the most of his ample talent and potential, but there's always the potential he can make a run in this tournament.
M.O: Nick Kyrgios. He's got an intriguing few tests ahead of him, but provided he keeps his composure and stays consistent, I don't see any reason why he cannot prove his doubters wrong and get into the latter stages of the tournament, especially because he has an added edge that most do not - flair.
S.B: Which lower seed has the best chance of making the quarterfinals? Fabio Fognini. Not being able to get seeded higher than 28th already has Fognini at an uphill battle, but he is in perhaps the best possible section to sneak into the quarterfinals. He would meet 4th seeded Berdych as early as the third round, but Fognini has a 2-2 head to head with the bird man with a 2-1 advantage on clay. If he manages to make it past him he would have to get past 14 seeded Tsonga in the round of 16 who has also struggled this season failing to make a quarterfinal this season in 5 attempts.
4. Which young gun puts their name on the map or proves they’re the real deal in Paris? Why?
N.A: Watch out for Borna Coric to officially prove he’s the real deal. His draw isn’t the kindest getting Sam Querrey in the first round, but the Croat is much a better player on clay and overall in comparison to the American so after that he should really have a confidence boost should he win with Tommy Robredo and a struggling Dimitrov possibly looming in the next couple of rounds. A fourth round showing could give Coric the confidence heading into the grass season where his booming serve is going to be quite the formidable weapon.
G.C: Nick Kyrgios. He seems a lot more complete this year in terms of his game and mentality. Nick has improved tremendously in the last two years.
H.R: He made a name for himself in Australia and I think he’ll do so again in Paris. He’s my ‘horse’ to reach the quarter finals, it’s Kyrgios.
G.F: Thanasi Kokkinakis (I like his name ;) no seriously, I like the way he plays)
T.C: The young guns are coming and the top players better start watching out. While the top two seeds and young stars Alexander Zverev and Hyeon Chung crashed out in qualifying after both having played challenger finals just days before we are left with a few of the names that are already becoming well known in the tennis world. Kyrgios, Coric and Kokkinakis are already well on the radar on the tour and I could see each of them having chances at upsets. But the one that really excites me is Francis Tiafoe at 17 who only recently one his wildcard from the American hard court challenge where he played fantastic for consecutive weeks. With a first round against Martin Klizan we really could see this kid arrive. A mention has to go to Elias Ymer too who has a great game for clay courts but has been rather lingering in the ranking without quite breaking through like some of his rivals, a first round against Rosol will provide opportunity to change that.
J.C: For me, it has to be Dominic Thiem. He lost out in the second round to Nadal last year in straight sets, but since then he has reached the 4th round of the 2014 US Open and has recorded wins over players like Gulbis and Lopez, and has also shown promising signs in his victory over Wawrinka in the 2014 Madrid tournament. Thiem is projected to meet Gael Monfils in the 3rd round and, if he makes it through, Roger Federer in the 4th. If Thiem makes a good run in this tournament it would show he is the real deal for the future and can step up on the big stages.
T.K: Kokkinakis will show his incredible talent at Roland Garros this year. He could make the surprise on it and prove himself as one of the best young guns in Paris.
P.C: Dimitrov will be the player to go deep. He has already reached the semifinals at a Grand Slam and will show that on clay he can be a good player. Perhaps he can learn with his girlfriend and go further.
C.W: He's not very well known, but he did make it to the fourth round last year at Roland Garros. That's why I'm going with the 25 year old Serbian in Dusan Lajovic. He might not be proving that he is the "real deal," but he can play on the clay and if he makes it to the fourth round again this year, or improves his play to make it to the quarterfinals, he will be much better well known than he currently is.
L.M: This is someone who we all know is the real deal, and have known it for some time, but I think that this is the tournament where Grigor Dimitrov establishes himself as one of THE top players in the world. I don't think he'll win the tournament, but he'll make the semifinals.
M.O: Dominic Thiem. The young talented Austrian is the highest seeded youngster in the tournament, and has Gael Monfils in the same bracket as himself. He's already prevailed on a few occasions against high seeds, and will cement himself as the best youngster on the world stage with a decent display in Paris.
S.B: Which young gun puts their name on the map or proves they're the real deal in Paris? Why? Borna Coric. The good news for tennis is the young up and comers are showing very good signs for years to come. That is why this was such a hard choice to make and it really came down to circumstance. Out of all the young studs on tour (Tomic, Sock, Kyrgios, Thiem, Vesely, and Goffin) he is in the best section of the draw to be in. The only clay court specialist he would see before the round of 16 would be 18 seeded Robredo who's health issues have kept him off the court since April 20. Should he get past that he would play Dimitrov for a spot in the round of 16. I considered switching this pick with either Goffin or Dimitrov, but already wins over Nadal and Murray so early in his career this young star seems primed for the big stage and I believe this will be the platform where he makes his breakthrough.
5. What first round matchup intrigues you the most? Why?
N.A: The matchup of Nicolas Almagro and Alexandr Dolgopolov is a really intriguing first round matchup. The Dolg brings quite the unique game with his unorthodox motions while Almagro is itching to have a strong showing once again at the majors after a long injury layoff. Almagro’s one-handed backhand is going to be the key shot in this matchup as when his confidence is down and he’s getting frustrated, this is the shot that tends to let him down. However, when Almagro is in a zone, his backhand is his most formidable weapon as illustrated against Djokovic in Rome a couple of weeks ago.
G.C: Grigor Dimitrov - Jack Sock. I feel that Dimitrov has a lot to prove in Paris as he's not been having the best year, and Sock has been improving massively and has proved he can succeed on clay after winning the title in Houston.
H.R: Jack Sock - Grigor Dimitrov should be a cracking match. Two very entertaining tennis players who have been in good form in recent weeks.
G.F: Kyle Edmund - Stephane Robert - 2 qualifiers aiming for the 2nd round, one will make it, hopefully it will be Kyle.
T.C: In all honesty this links in with the previous question as the first round matchups that intrigue me the most are those involving the young, emerging talents and an opportunity to see some of the fresh French players who have had little coverage. Also I am not sure if I am even allowed to still say I am intrigued by Gulbis playing every week but I am going to stand by it because of what a huge tournament in his career this is. After failing to defend his title in Nice, he has semi final points to defend here which could lead to a huge slide if he crashes out early. Winner for first round match up has to go to Nadal - Halys. Halys is current junior boys French doubles champ and he will have nothing to lose against the king who has every eye watching and eagerly awaiting to see if he can be dethroned. Throw in a high standard match and Halys keeping it tight, now that atmosphere will be electric.
J.C: I would say Dimitrov - Sock is looking very interesting. On paper Dimitrov is the clear favourite as he is seeded 10th and ranked 25 places above Sock; however, this year Sock claimed his first ATP title in Houston and earlier this month he hit his highest career ranking (33). Considering Dimitrov's less than stellar start to the year which has included no titles or even finals, it's highly possible this could be a very interesting match.
T.K: There are many matches that catch my eye, but the two that really intrigue me are t Malek Jaziri VS. Andrey Kuznetsov and Roger Federer VS. Alejandro Falla. Jaziri is a countryman of mine so it would be nice to see him advance a couple of rounds.
P.C: Grigor Dimitrov vs. Jack Sock This is going to be a great match, both of them are excellent players and know what they have to do to do well in Paris.
C.W: Paul-Henri Mathieu - Kei Nishikori. Mathieu has played in 12 French Opens and has struggled there the past few years, getting eliminated in the opening round in two of the last three. He is definitely an underdog but he has made it to the third or fourth round in previous years and has a strong chance of pulling off an upset that very few to no-one might expect in the first round.
L.M: Tim Smyczek - (15) Kevin Anderson. Smyczek nearly pulled an upset in Australia, where he led Rafael Nadal two sets to one and was even at 4-4 in the fifth. Smyczek is a grinder, very much out of the David Ferrer mold. Anderson, meanwhile, is one of the best serve-and-volleyers in tennis. However, those skills are nullified on clay. Smyczek has a game built for clay, and he has a great chance to pull off the upset.
M.O: Seppi-Isner. Isner lost to Thiem in the semifinals of the Open de Nice yesterday, and will be looking to get revenge against a tough opponent in the form of Andrea Seppi, with the Italian's favourite surface being clay. Intriguing is an understatement.
S.B: Most intriguing first round matchup: Sock - Dimitrov. After proclaiming clay to be his preferred surface, he would really be making a statement by taking out #10 seed Grigor Dimitrov in the first round. Don't let the seeding fool you, Sock comes in as one of the highest ranked players(36) to not be seeded at the event. The matchup also has several key aspects that make it a can't miss. Sock has had a breakout year having won his first career title in having only played 5 events this year. While Dimitrov has not had an awful year, he has fallen outside of the top 10 having not reached a single final and only reaching the semis twice in 10 tournaments this season. The two have only squared off once before in Stockholm last year where Dimitrov was able to squeeze out a tight 3 set match that contained high level play from start to finish.
6. Which player has the toughest draw? Why?
N.A: This one might be a surprise to you all, but I think John Isner has the toughest draw. His first round matchup is no easy task against Australian Open giant killer, Andreas Seppi. Frenchman Jeremy Chardy could await in the second round where the crowd would obviously be behind the Frenchman, and a possible third round showdown with wiley Belgian David Goffin could cause him trouble.
G.C: Andy Murray. He is in a half with Djokovic and Nadal and if he were to reach the final he has to beat Pospisil, Kyrgios, Isner, Ferrer, and Djokovic or Nadal. His predicted route to the final is treacherous…
H.R: I think Nadal has been unlucky. He’s a master at overcoming challenges in Paris but he could be playing in-form Novak in the quarter finals.
G.F: Oh easy, Andy - he has Novak, Rafa, Ferrer all to get passed to reach the final
T.C: Simple. Jarkko Nieminen plays Djokovic first round, no more needs to be said.
J.C: My initial reaction upon looking at the draw is that Nadal's path is the hardest; provided he gets there, he would face Dimitrov in the 4th round, followed by Djokovic, Murray and then finally Federer. With his current form this is a formidable mission, especially since he only has 4 matches to prepare for the monumental task of facing Djokovic. Throughout this year he has frequently struggled against lower ranked players which could prove to make his 2nd round difficult too - he will face either Almagro or Dolgopolov, both of whom have beaten him just last year.
T.K: Nadal has the toughest draw because he probably face Djokovic in the quarters. Also it's so difficult to beat Novak because he has been incredible these last few months and has 22 consecutive wins. It will be difficult for Rafa, and I will surprised if he wins that matchup.
P.C: Rafael Nadal has the toughest draw with Novak, Dimitrov, Murray, Ferrer, Kyrgios, Almagro, Coric and Gasquet on his side of the draw.
C.W: To be honest, I really feel like Novak Djokovic has the toughest draw, even as the top seed in the tournament. Facing possibly the three toughest opponents back to back to back to win the tournament is very difficult, as he would have to defeat Nadal in the Quarterfinals, Andy Murray in the semifinals, and then Roger Federer in the Final, is just a difficult draw. Also, It's just upsetting that Nadal and Djokovic have to be on the same side of the draw at all as they would be much better served to meet up potentially in the finale.
L.M: Novak Djokovic. Assuming they both advance that far, he'll have to play Rafa in the quarters. Enough. Said.
S.B: Which player has the toughest draw? Djokovic. Hands down. While I may have him down as the man to beat at the event, that doesn't he's going to find his way to the trophy in one piece. In order for Novak to capture his first Roland Garros crown he will most likely have to take out every member in the Big Four all in a row. Before the quarter the toughest person he will have to get past will most likely be Kevin Anderson, but after that he will most likely have to take out 9 time champion Rafael Nadal in the quarters, Andy Murray in the semis, and world number two Roger Federer in the final.
7. Which top seed gets upset first? Why?
N.A: A link to the answer to the previous question, I think John Isner gets knocked off by Andreas Seppi in the first round. Seppi knows how to deal with the best servers in the world and is a solid player all-around. He’s not really going to excite you with his style of play, but it gets the job done. Should Seppi get into baseline rallies with Isner, he should be winning those as they tire out the big man.
G.C: Grigor Dimitrov. He's got a tough draw and is clearly not at his best given his results so far this year.
H.R: None of the top four except Nadal are in bad form and if anyone can overcome bad form in France it is quite obviously him. I can’t predict it well but I’d say it could end up being Nadal in the quarters.
G.F: Wawrinka - has had very indifferent form since winning his first slam last year
T.C: With a huge buzz around Andy Murray and his incredible form after finding the magic solution of marriage to his previous puzzling clay results, everyone will be expecting a strong showing. But Murray is notorious for throwing in some bizarrely poor performances in clay and a potential clash with Kyrgios in the early rounds smells trouble.
J.C: Marin Cilic is in a dangerous situation right now. His run to the US Open title, beating Federer along the way, and subsequent showing at the World Tour Finals were impressive - however, since then he has been rather mediocre. He has spent a fair amount of time away from the game (including missing the Australian Open) due to a lingering shoulder injury and his season has been littered with 1st and 2nd round losses. For this reason I can easily see him being a casualty of even his first round opponent, Robin Haase.
T.K: I think that Pablo Cuevas may lose his 1st round match VS. Sam Groth. The big serves from the Aussie could give him trouble.
P.C: Bautista Agut will be upset first.
C.W: Again and for reasons I've already mentioned, I'm going to say that Nishikori gets upset first. He could go down easily in round 1, 2, or 3, and just typically doesn't play as well on clay as he does on other surfaces.
L.M: Although he's my dark horse to win the tournament, there's a great chance Andy Murray gets upset in the Round of 32. He'll likely have to play Nick Kyrgios, and that's an incredibly difficult draw.
M.O: Grigor Dimitrov. He's got the stature, the ability, but as everyone knows, the clay courts are his least favourite surface, and he's been beaten by a few un-seeded players in the past. It wouldn't be a surprise if this happened again in Paris.
S.B: Which top seed has the biggest chance to get upset first? Marin Cilic. Having played very few tournaments this year and doing rather poorly in all of them this decision wasn't a hard decision to make. While I think this is the perfect section for Cilic to be in because he doesn't have any tough matchups early and can be a good confidence booster for him, his inability to win back to back matches this season makes him more susceptible than anyone else to catching an upset.
8. Which non-seeded player can get into the second week? Why?
N.A: I think Jeremy Chardy could get into the second week because he’s in a part of the draw which I have alluded to earlier is wide open. The seeds in that third round portion are David Goffin and John Isner. Neither man are world beaters and should they get knocked out early, Chardy could take advantage and sneak into a possible showdown with Andy Murray in the fourth round.
G.C: Thomaz Bellucci because he's in a good quarter of the draw. If Nishikori is having a bad day then I think he'll be able to beat him in a potential fourth round.
H.R: Jeremy Chardy - He's had some tough draws against Murray and Federer in recent tournaments which make his form look poor but really, in his home country, I think he can get second week. The best player he can face in th third round is Isner and on his day he could overcome him.
G.F: Aljaz Bedene - He's British, we need another player making it to slam 2nd weeks.
T.C: I am going to go for an out of the box opinion and throw in the name of one of my favourite players. Pablo Carreno Busta plays tennis' answer to Rocky Balboa in the form of Victor Estrella Burgos in the first round to set up a meeting with Grigor Dimitrov. Dimitrov has struggled beyond expectations this year and having crashed out in shocking manner first round to Karlovic last year Pablo may fancy his chances. It has been a very disappointing 2015 for Pablo but any confidence he can gain will set him for a strong showing on his best surface.
J.C: It's a risky bet but I'd say Janowicz could go into the second week. His results lately have been less than he is capable of, however he beat Monfils over 5 sets at the Australian Open and remains a contender for me. He has proven he can go deep into the big tournaments as demonstrated by his 2013 semi final appearance at Wimbledon; now it's just a case of repeating that success.
T.K: Thomaz Bellucci has some chances to compete into the 2nd week in Roland Garros because he has confidence after winning the Geneva Open.
P.C: Santiago Giraldo. He has a potential clash with Isner on the third round, and I believe he can win it and get through the fourth round.
C.W: This is probably a bit of a homer pick, but I'm going with Elias Ymer. He qualified to get into the tournament, but he just has to beat #19 Roberto Bautista Agut and #11 Feliciano Lopez. Ymer is just 19 years of age and he is a young Swede with promise. He was eliminated in the opening round of the Australian open but could continue to show his promise.
L.M: Tim Smyczek. He's got a game built for clay, and I really like his chances of pulling off some upsets.
M.O: Thiem, because as previously stated, he has a favourable draw and has proven his quality against the better players over the past few months.
S.B: Which non seeded player can make it to the second week? Martin Klizan. There's a certain ingredient involved in making the second week at any major which involves filling your name in for one of the top 8 seeds. Come into the tournament seeded this involve having to turn up an extra gear for maybe one or two rounds. Come into the tournament without a seed next to your name this means taking out a big name almost every round. For Martin Klizan however, he might have some people help along the way. In his quarter of the draw he has Simon, Gulbis, and Wawrinka to worry about. Gulbis having had an atrocious season that has sees sim him stumbling further and further down the rankings may not make it to the 3rd round where he'd meet Klizan. Wawrinka has Garcia Lopez to about has given Stan a headache since being upset by him at the French last year. His biggest task would be making it past Simon in the 2nd round, but having just retired in Nice last week to Thiem, Simon might not be fit to play this event.
9. Which American player goes the deepest? Why?
N.A: Naturally, John Isner is a popular pick here but since I have him getting knocked out early, I think youngster Francis Tiafoe is going to make some noise for the Americans. Having personally watched him being near him at college, his game is made for clay rather than the hard courts, which is unlike most Americans. He’s in a part of the draw which contains Ernests Gulbis and Gilles Simon, the former is having an awful season while the latter is coming off of an injury. Tiafoe could be the man to break the trend of American men struggling on clay.
G.C: John Isner. His season's been great and it seems like he's finally figuring out how to play on the clay. 5 set matches also seem to suit him quite well.
H.R: John Isner has been in good form lately, winning on clay in Portugal, and I think he can continue that in Paris.
G.F: Isner - he is the best of the Americans
T.C: Easy, toss up between the best in the world, the Bryan Bros or Jack Sock (member of superstar doubles team Pospisock). I know this question was intended to be on singles but when American tennis has the best doubles players in the world why talk about anything else. The developing rivalry of the Bryan Bros and Pospisock is huge also and if the ATP do things right can be a real platform to start promoting the doubles game properly again.
J.C: Naturally I think John Isner will go the furthest, as he is the American to consistently go deeper in tournaments than his countrymen. Roland Garros is no exception - he reached the 4th round last year and remains one of the only two men in history to push Nadal to 5 sets on Philippe Chatrier. He has a tough first round against Seppi, but I think it's likely he'll make it to the 4th round to face Murray.
T.K: John Isner can go the deepest amongst all the other American competitors because he's the best of them.
P.C: Jack Sock goes the deepest if he defeats Dimitrov.
C.W: Well, I would probably go with John Isner, because he is the highest ranking American, and because he is just a difficult assignment because of his size and power. He could probably advance to the fourth round, which says quite a lot about the current sad state of American Men's tennis.
L.M: See last answer.
S.B: Which American player goes the farthest? Jack Sock. If he were to make it out of the first round he has the best chance of all the American to make the round of 16 even with Isner being seeded.
10. Which French player goes the deepest? Why?
N.A: Gael Monfils seems to be the sexy pick for this one, and I’m going to have to go ahead and pick him as well. He is in fine form recently having performed well in Monte Carlo and the other clay events. It is his home slam, and he loves to entertain and perform well for the French crowd. With an eye-opening draw (which is a good thing for him), he should be able to get to the round of 16 with a mouthwatering matchup against Roger Federer waiting. Recent history says he should give Federer a run for his money, and a quarterfinals appearance or further could be in sight.
G.C: Gilles Simon. He's used to slugging it out in long physical matches and with the crowd support I think he'll do well in Paris.
H.R: Richard Gasquet should have a good pop at getting into the last 16 at least.
G.F: Tsonga - I think he is the best of them and will do well
T.C: Monfils is by far the best French hope this year and is set for a last 16 clash with Roger Federer who he has caused much trouble in recent times. In all honesty though even if he loses at that stage it may well be good enough to be the best showing from any French National in the Capital.
J.C: As I've mentioned, I believe Gael Monfils stands a good chance of going deep in this tournament. He seems most comfortable playing in France with the crowd to cheer him on; he'll be a serious threat to Federer if history is any indicator.
T.K: Gael Monfils could be the guy to go deep amongst the Frenchman. He's the favourite to possibly to get to the quarters or semis. Tsonga and Simon should offer a challenge though.
P.C: Richard Gasquet can have a very good tournament. I saw him play at Estoril in Portugal, and he's been playing very well on clay.
C.W: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tsonga has been to a French Open Semi-Final before and simply seems to be the best option the French have to advance. Plus he would match up against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round. I just tend to believe that Tsonga is better than Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon and has a better draw than both of them.
L.M: Richard Gasquet. See earlier answer, it's all about those mystical, early summer Paris nights. It's like a superhero serum for a Frenchman.
M.O: Gael Monfils, quarter-finals. He's good on clay, but he'll struggle to beat Federer, who has a never-say-die attitude.
S.B: Which French player goes the farthest? Tsonga. Second to Simon, Tsonga has an interesting draw to work with. He doesn't have crazy early matches, but would meet Berdych should he make the round of 16. It's an unfavorable matchup for Tsonga, but the two have history together meeting 8 times over the last five years. Even though it doesn't favor the Frenchman, he does do considerably well at grand slam events, muc
11. Does Nadal get knocked out before the final? To whom and why?
N.A: Hmm. This is the real million dollar question. In all honesty, should Nadal cruise through his first four rounds with relative ease, and we see him absolutely destroying the ball like he is capable of, it is likely that French Open number ten is awaiting. However, if he is struggling like he has all year, Djokovic should dispatch Nadal with quite ease. So all in all, it really is a toss up but I’m more inclined to say he’s going to get knocked out by Djokovic in four sets.
G.C: It's hard to say, as a Djokovic- Nadal quarterfinal is set. I'd say it's very even between the two right now, taking into account Nadal's record in Paris, but I would edge Nadal to win that match. In that case, my answer is no.
H.R: I think he’ll be knocked out by Djokovic in the quarter-final. It’s a shame because those two in the final would have produced one of the best in years.
G.F: Yes, to Andy after he knocks out Djokovic
T.C: The final against Djokovic or the official one? The draw has obliterated this question with a quarter final potential matchup against Djokovic. It will very simply come down to, is Rafael Nadal going to up his game in the tournament he has dominated his whole life. I struggle to not say that Nadal is the favourite but his performances of been frighteningly uncharacteristic at times this year and this shift has left many doubters voicing their opinion of his demise. I just find this tournament impossible to predict with so many different ways that players could turn up and perform. While he remains king I will not say that he his underdog to anyone but that could all change this year.
J.C: As a Nadal fan I'm hoping no, but most logic points towards Djokovic defeating him in the quarter final. However, this is Rafael Nadal - he has an outstanding record of 66 wins to 1 loss at the French Open, and also has a track record of defying all odds by coming out on top on the red clay. Last year his clay court season was below par for him yet he still triumphed over Djokovic at Roland Garros; this year could be just the same.
T.K: If Nadal continues his drop in the rankings and continues losing to top players, he will get knocked from Roland Garros early and by early, I mean to Djokovic in the quarters.
P.C: Nadal loses to Djokovic in the quarterfinals. Novak is too good at the moment, and Nadal is in poor form.
C.W: No. But that's because I have Nadal winning the tournament. The only reason he should go home early is because he is not fully healed and not ready to play in this event. But Nadal is fantastic and the King of Clay so you have to roll the dice with him.
L.M: No. He wins the whole tournament. However, if he does lose before the final, it happens to Djokovic in the quarters.
M.O: I think Rafa will probably get to the quarters, or even the semis, but not the final itself. If he does meet Djokovic in the quarterfinals, I think he'll lose. He's not strong enough yet, even on his favourable surface, to beat the best.
S.B: Does Nadal get knocked out before the final? Yes. While I wouldn't be surprised to see someone with a 66-1 record walk home again with the trophy I don't see him making it to the end this year. He has two people that have wins over him he would have to face, a host of clay court specialists he would face in the round of 16, Djokovic in the quarters, and Andy Murray in the semis. The latter two having much more successful season's than the spaniard. While he still has the ability to outlast thee players seeing him do it consecutively would be a true testament to his character.
12. Does Djokovic make the final? Why?
N.A: Another intriguing question. This is the trophy that has eluded Novak Djokovic for all of his career, but yes he will make the final because he is absolutely untouchable at the moment. He is unstoppable right now just like he was in 2011, actually he might be even better than in 2011. Novak is a freight train, and he is going to destroy anything in his sight to get a French Open title.
G.C: Again, this is a difficult question. It all depends on how Rafa is feeling and playing, so I'm not sure.
H.R: I said Djokovic will win it and to do so he needs to be the final, so yes for me. He’s the most in-form tennis player in the world and not just that, he’s the best in the world anyway.
G.F: No, Nadal takes him out in the QF
T.C: If he does make it there he will have to do it the hard way, while it is all mere speculation Djokovic's performances force me to have the opinion that yes he will make the final. Why? Well until a player turns up and shows the are on his level over 5 sets at the moment, it would be more suitable to ask, why not?
J.C: It's highly likely he will. His current form is nothing short of outstanding as his title haul for this year reflects, and for many people it would be shocking for him not to win Roland Garros this year. The only things that could feasibly inhibit his quest for the title are the pressure he has placed upon himself to win in Paris and a certain Rafael Nadal.
T.K: Sure..Djokovic will reach the final if he keeps winning like he has done all year. He will be motivated as the French Open is the only title he is missing from a career Grand Slam.
P.C: Yes, i truly believe he can make the final. He's been playing very well and since his son was born, he is more motivated than ever.
C.W: Unfortunately, no. The Djoker is absolutely fantastic, but he is going to lose in the quarterfinals when he faces Nadal. It will probably be a five set loss, but Nadal should be able to pull of the title after he eliminates Djokovic.
L.M: No. He can't beat Nadal in Paris, but that should be quite some quarterfinal to watch.
M.O: See next answer.
S.B: Yes. See first question.
13. Who are your finalists and winner? Why?
N.A: My finalists are the world number one Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori. My winner is Novak Djokovic because even an inform Nishikori is going to have trouble beating an inform Djokovic. Nishikori should be able to take a set off the Serb, maybe even two, but it’s a tough ask for the Japanese number one.
G.C: I'm going for a Nadal/Federer final with Nadal winning. It's a really difficult call but if I'd have to take a pick between the guys in the top half, Rafa would be top of the list given his success at Roland Garros.
H.R: I’m going for Novak to win it, beating Roger Federer. I haven’t spoken about him because I don’t think he’ll need to be at his best to get to the final because of his luck in the draw. Both Nadal and Murray can meet the powerful Serb before the final, Federer should be able to squeeze past in the other half of the draw.
G.F: Murray and Federer - Murray winning (so far he is undefeated on clay this year - very unusual for a Brit)
T.C: Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori and Tomas Berdych what a chance has presented itself. While the bottom half of the draw has plenty of talent these 4 guys will be licking their lips at the opportunities it provides. With Nishikori looking liking a world beater one moment to a talented but mentally frail player at other moments who knows what to expect but he is probably the player most comfortable on this surface but with the least experience o handling the inevitable pressure. In all honesty, I am hoping that Roger can make it to one last final in Roland Garros and I do think it will probably be his last chance at this tournament to achieve that. Who wins? I think to sum it up, I do not have a clue.
J.C: I'd say Djokovic will defeat Federer in the final. Federer's draw is decent and includes players he should be beating, plus his form at the moment is very good. However, Djokovic is simply on another level at the moment - also his recent win over Federer in Rome was straight sets which should give him plenty of confidence going into that potential final.
T.K: I think the final will be between the world’s best two players right now: Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. However, Federer is going to sneak one out and upset the world number one and take home the title.
P.C: My finalists are Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych. The winner is Novak. Berdych has been solid so far on every surface this season.
C.W: I've got a classic final. Nadal over Federer. Call me a fan of the classics but I think Nadal is clearly going to win the title, and from the other side of the draw, Federer has a pretty clear path to win that side, simply because he avoids the other three big names in Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray. Nadal wins over Federer in 4 sets.
L.M: Roger Federer - Rafael Nadal. The two greatest players of the last 15 years will meet for one final time in a major final. It should be quite something to watch.
M.O: I think it'd be a Djokovic-Federer final, because they've both got favourable draws and form is on their side. The latter could struggle against Gael Monfils, but time will tell there. Novak would have a few tough matches on his hands against the likes of Rafa and Andy, if he gets that far, but all in all, that final would be a perfect one. WINNER: Novak.
S.B: Final: Roger Federer - Novak Djokovic. Winner: Novak Djokovic. Federer should make the final because I see the seeds that are a threat around him getting upset before they get a shot to get to Roger. Djokovic is just too solid and would have to get injured for him to miss the final. For obvious reasons, Novak Djkovic is going to win this over Roger Federer. I just do not see an upset happening in the final.