*Match start times approximate and subject to change
Grigor Dimitrov v Marcos Giron
Sunday, 10am
One of the standout ties of the opening day pairs Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov against Marcos Giron from the United States. Dimitrov will be trying to improve on his relatively poor showing in the Australian Open where he exited at the hands of Benoit Paire in the second round. Currently ranked at world number 20, his best performance to date at Roland Garros came in 2020 when he reached the fourth round and is generally a solid performer at this venue.
His opponent Giron has recently reached a career-high ranking of 49 and has passed the first round in the last two years at Roland Garros and will certainly be a tough challenge for the experienced former world number 3 and I fully expect this to be a closer contest than many would suggest. Giron looks decent value for the win at around 5/1 but the safer bet would be Both Players to win a set.
Both Players to win a set – Yes
Pablo Cuevas v Jenson Brooksby
Sunday, 12pm
This should prove to be an interesting matchup with the fancied American Rookie Jenson Brooksby, currently ranked a career high of 34, facing veteran Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas.
While the youngster’s career is clearly on an upward trajectory after solid performances at Rome and Miami this year, the draw hasn’t been particularly kind in pairing him with Cuevas, who although ranked 118th, is a seasoned competitor at this level. Uruguayan players seem to do well on clay courts and Cuevas is no different with his last first-round elimination from Roland Garros coming all the way back in 2011 and even securing a doubles title here in 2008 with Peruvian Luis Horna.
Brooksby is the clear favourite going into this tie and is in decent form, having won 11 out of 18 of his ATP tour matches this year but I would find it hard to bet against the wily South American to draw on his vastly superior experience on the big stage and battle to a narrow victory against his North American counterpart.
Pablo Cuevas to win
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 04: Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in action against Daria Gavrilova of Australia during day five of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 04, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Kaia Kanepi v Garbine Muguruza
This promises to be an interesting tie with Spaniard and former champion Garbine Muguruza drawn against Estonian Kaia Kanepi. Muguruza certainly has pedigree having prevailed at Roland Garros in 2016, defeating defending champion Serena Williams in straight sets in the final. Another Grand Slam followed at Wimbledon a year later but things haven’t gone to plan since with only one more appearance in a Grand Slam final in the four following seasons.
She heads into the tournament in underwhelming form, having been knocked out in the second round in Rabat to world number 81 Martina Trevisan and comes up against a tough competitor in Kanepi who has four singles titles to her name on the WTA tour. The experienced Estonian performed well in the Australian open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka and Angelique Kerber on the way to the quarter-finals. Take Kanepi to win and heap more misery on the underperforming Spaniard.
Kaia Kanepi to win
Our French Open Day 1 Treble
- Dimitrov v Giron: Both Players to win a set – Yes
- Cuevas v Brooksby: Pablo Cuevas to win
- Kanepi v Muguruza: Kaia Kanepi to win
These three bets payout at over 9/1 – tap here to add it to your betslip instantly!
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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