RAFAEL Nadal is always the nominal favourite at Roland Garros, probably because he has only lost three matches there in his entire career, of which one was via retirement. The King of Clay will be keen to bounce back from a shock loss to Diego Schwartzman in Rome to really put a stamp on his favourite event and extend his ridiculous lead at the top of the French Open titleholders.

With the draw released yesterday, it was announced unseeded Belarusian Egor Gerasimov has the near-impossible task of taking down the 12-time winner, with Nadal’s run to the third round fate-accompli with a likely matchup against the winner of first round battle, Daniel Evans and Kei Nishikori.

The entire quarter of the draw has some big names, but mostly in the top eighth, with Alexander Zverev (sixth seed) and David Goffin (11th) in there. Goffin has a tough first-up match with Italian young gun Jannik Sinner in one of the danger games for a seed, while 23rd seed Frenchman Benoit Paire lost his only match since returning from a positive COVID-19 test result and if he finds form could face Goffin the third round. Australian Alex de Minaur reached his first Grand Slam quarter final at the US Open but after an easier first round qualifying opponent, has Zverev for likely company in the third round.

If we are talking about matches to look forward to, then look no further than Dominic Thiem‘s quarter of the draw. The back-to-back runner-up will not have to wait until the final to play his nemesis Nadal, landing in the same half as him. Gael Monfils is up the other end of the quarter taking on in-form Alexander Bublik in a tough first-up game. Thiem himself has to take on Marin Cilic, but should have him comfortably covered on clay.

The match of the first round has to be 16th seed Stan Wawrinka up against wildcard Brit, Andy Murray. Both are Grand Slam winners and to draw in the first round is an unbelievable event. Murray is also the last wildcard you would want to face if you are Wawrinka. Also in that draw we see a ton of Americans and Frenchman running around, including teenager Hugo Gaston who if he can overcome compatriot Maxime Janvier, could have a crack at fellow young gun, Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round. Schwartzman takes on rising Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round, whilst Casper Ruud is in line to face Thiem in the third round if he can make it.

Without Thiem in his half, it is hard to see Novak Djokovic not reaching the final as the third best clay courter in the world. He has drawn improving Swede, Mikael Ymer in the first round, and has an overall smooth draw to the fourth round, with just Hubert Hurkacz in his way. A third round clash between Cristian Garin and Karen Khachanov would be on the cards for the right to play Djokovic in the fourth round which would be the Serb’s first test.

Australian John Millman has fallen in this quarter of the draw, up against Pablo Carreno Busta in what will be a tough, but winnable game for the Australian. The match of that eighth has to be seventh seed Matteo Berrettini up against Vasek Pospisil, with the in-form Canadian showing in recent weeks what he can do now he is back within the automatic entry for Grand Slams. Jan-Lennard Stuff takes on Frances Tiafoe in the first round too, while Roberto Bautista Agut has drawn Richard Gasquet in a match that will possibly be the longest of the seeded games.

In the second quarter of the draw, the best players yet to win a Grand Slam are in line to face off in a quarter final with fourth seed and US Open semi-finalist Daniil Medvedev and fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas falling here. Medvedev has the dangerous Marton Fucsovics in the first round, while Tsitsipas takes on improving Jaume Munar. The quarter might not have the op-end quality in terms of other seeds, but they have some seriously talented clay courters.

Nikoloz Basilashvili is a known performer on clay, as is Dusan Lajovic and Filip Krajinovic, all who fall into the quarter. Denis Shapovalov and Andrey Rublev do not always have the consistency in their game, but they, along with the ever-dangerous Grigor Dimitrov round out the seeds. The match of this quarter is likely unseeded pair, Serbian Laslo Djere and Kevin Anderson, with Djere favoured due to the service. Keep an eye out for young Frenchman, Harold Mayot who takes on Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Top 5 Matches to Watch:

[16] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs. [WC] Andy Murray (GBR)
[11] David Goffin (BEL) vs. Jannik Sinner (ITA)
[3] Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO)
[7] Matteo Berrettini (ITA) vs. Vasek Pospisil (CAN)
[32] Daniel Evans (GBR) vs. Kei Nishikori (JPN)

Prediction:

Nadal to defeat Djokovic in four sets, with Thiem and Tsitsipas to lose in the semis. Expect a surprise quarter finals opponent for Thiem, with either Schwartzman or Coric potentially getting there over Monfils. Medvedev, Zverev and potentially Bautista Agut to round out the final eight, with Berrettini’s form of late a little shaky.

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