Day 2 Action Packed After Rain Delay

Day 1’s rain has pushed back almost all matches, making Day 2 full of action. The Weather Channel is reporting clear skies and sunshine tomorrow. Hopefully, they’re right, and we get a full day of tennis.

Fucsovics (HUN) vs. Rafa (ESP)

Whenever Rafa plays, you must stop whatever you’re doing and tune in. Firstly, he still shows flashes of his brilliance. Secondly, his matches are now more competitive and thrilling since he’s not as dominant. Most importantly, each match could be his last. Although he’s signed up for the US Open and expected to play, he has had to withdraw from several tournaments this year. After the Olympics, he mentioned needing to reassess his future.

We thought Roland Garros might be the end, but now no one is sure when it will be, not even Rafa. Fucsovics is often described as a “poor man’s two-handed Roger Federer,” or perhaps more accurately, a “poor man’s two-handed Dimitrov.” His game is clean, flashy, and effective on all surfaces. Despite using a two-handed backhand, his slice is incredible, and he controls points with his forehand. While Rafa remains a formidable opponent at Roland Garros, expect a thrilling match.

Prediction: Rafa, but not as easily as 2021 Rafa would have.

Musetti (ITA) vs. Monfils (FRA)

Zo vs. La Monf. The rain delay has created some exciting matchups for Day 2. This could end up being the match of the tournament. Musetti, my dark horse to medal, faces Monfils, the player the crowd most wants to see win a medal. Both are flashy shot-makers who play to the crowd, but expect 99% of the crowd to be French. Monfils, while not at his peak, still has impressive athleticism and will have the crowd’s full support.

Whether it’s a jumping 360-degree forehand or a tweener, expect some spectacular shot-making. Musetti recently reached the final in Umag and will have less than 24 hours to rest and travel to the Olympics. Monfils, on the other hand, rested and prepared after Wimbledon. It could go either way—Musetti may be tired, or Monfils may be rusty. It will be interesting to see if Monfils can channel his youthful energy and advance to the second round.

Tommy Paul (USA) vs. Luciano Darderi (ITA)

Thanks to the rain, we get to see every American in action on Sunday, including Fritz in doubles. In singles, the focus is on Tommy Paul. Although his opponent is less formidable, Paul is one of the most exciting American players since Agassi. He can do everything on a tennis court: serve and volley, grind from the baseline, take returns early, hit slice or flat backhands, and rip forehands. He’s also unbelievably fast and seems to enjoy being on the court, keeping things light and fun. Over the past few years, he has risen in the ranks, briefly becoming the number one American man before Fritz reclaimed the title. Darderi prefers clay and is confident after winning matches in Hamburg and Umag. Tommy is the favorite but must be ready to play, as anything can happen in a best-of-three match.

Prediction: Tommy Paul

De Minaur vs. Struff

Both players are having one of the best years of their careers. De Minaur broke into the top 10 for the first time and is ranked sixth in the world. Struff is ranked 25th in the ATP race this year and won a title on clay in Munich, defeating notable players such as Rune and Felix. This match is a rematch of their third-round encounter at Roland Garros, where Struff won the first set and led in the second before De Minaur took control. With a shorter best-of-three format, there’s less time for a turnaround. De Minaur is recovering from a leg injury that forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon. Playing just 17 days later is a tough test, especially on clay. Initially, I thought De Minaur would win, but Struff’s momentum and better form make this match unpredictable.

Andreeva vs. Linette

Anytime Andreeva steps on the court, it’s must-see TV. The 17-year-old Russian burst onto the scene in Madrid, reaching the round of 16 before losing to Sabalenka. Since then, she has performed well on all surfaces, with notable success on clay. The bottom half of the draw is weaker, giving her a good chance for a deep run. Both players are coming off title wins this week—Andreeva in Romania and Linette in Prague. They met last year in Madrid, with Andreeva winning easily in straight sets. I’d expect a similar outcome this time, as Andreeva’s form and confidence are on the rise. Linette started the year slowly but has improved during the clay-court season. However, Andreeva’s powerful hitting should be too much for Linette.

Prediction: Mirra Andreeva

Gauff vs. Tomljanovic

Ajla Tomljanovic seemed destined for stardom after defeating Serena Williams in her final match at the US Open and reaching a career-high ranking of 32. However, injuries and personal struggles have hindered her progress. Since the end of 2022, her career has been stop-and-start. Facing Coco Gauff on clay is a tough challenge. Gauff, the US Open champion and former Roland Garros finalist, is arguably the second-best female clay-court player today, after Iga Świątek. Gauff hasn’t played a clay match recently, but her speed and defense make her a formidable opponent. Tomljanovic will need to play her best match since beating Serena to have a chance.

Prediction: Coco Gauff

Fernandez (CAN) vs. Muchova (CZE)

Originally scheduled for Day 1, this is my favorite matchup. Muchova plays a graceful, Federer-esque style, using her backhand slice and superb technique on both groundstrokes, and often mixing in serve and volley. She was up a break in the third set of the 2023 Roland Garros final before losing. Muchova has dealt with injuries this year, affecting her rhythm and match play. She faces Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 US Open finalist. After that final, we thought Fernandez and Raducanu were the future stars, but neither has matched those heights again. Muchova, if fully healthy, has the skills to win, but her health is uncertain. Fernandez has been more consistent over the past year. This could go to three sets, but I expect Muchova to advance, using her slice, aggressive serve and volley, and big forehand to disrupt Fernandez’s rhythm. The clay surface also favors Muchova.

Hsieh/Tsao (TPE) vs. Begu/Niculescu

Watching a legend like Su-Wei Hsieh in action is a must. She’s arguably the best doubles specialist of our time, with seven Grand Slam doubles titles and additional mixed doubles titles. At 38, Hsieh is retiring after this year and pairs with 20-year-old Chia-Yi Tsao. The two haven’t played much together, although they did win two matches in Prague before withdrawing to head to the Olympics. The Romanian team has more experience playing together, dating back to the 2016 Olympics, but Hsieh’s expertise is unmatched. In her final Olympics, Hsieh will likely elevate Tsao’s game. If Tsao can hold her own, they could go far.

Prediction: Hsieh/Tsao