Daniil Medvedev is set to square off against Adam Walton as the French Open continues.
Tsitsipas to battle Muller
Stefanos Tsitsipas is set to face Alexandre Muller. Muller comes into this clash in full freefall, six straight losses and seven defeats in his last eight matches underlining a clay swing that’s gone off the rails, with his ranking slipping outside the top 100. He only managed a modest quarter-final in Marrakech, offering some resistance to the slide. Tsitsipas arrives with a very different kind of baggage, still the more proven clay-court force and a former world #3, but now down at #82 after a shaky year.
Tsitsipas leads their head-to-head 3–0. Despite neither man being at his peak, the Greek’s heavier pedigree, and familiarity in these moments should be enough to tilt this in his favour. Tsitsipas has a natural one-handed backhand suited for clay and good variety in his shots. Muller plays solid tennis at home but may get outmaneuvered in longer rallies. Tsitsipas’ experience and ability to dictate should carry him.
Tsitsipas has frankly lost his way from what he used to be, but even he shouldn’t mess this one up against Muller, whose form has been nothing short of abysmal. Even for a player low on confidence, Tsitsipas should go into this one confident of a result.
Griekspoor set to play Arnaldi
Tallon Griekspoor is set to play Matteo Arnaldi. This first-round clash has the feel of two players arriving with very different momentum curves but overlapping ceilings. Tallon Griekspoor has had a stop-start clay swing, with injuries disrupting his rhythm after a strong start to the season. Matteo Arnaldi, by contrast, looks like a man rediscovering his edge at just the right time, stringing together a Challenger title in Cagliari, a seven-match winning streak, and will feel increasingly confident in Paris especially if Griekspoor’s recent patchy clay form resurfaces under pressure.
Matteo Arnaldi is athletic and builds points well on clay with strong fitness. Tallon Griekspoor can hit big but has been inconsistent on the surface lately. Arnaldi’s movement and steadiness give him the advantage in this matchup.
Despite being the better player overall, it’s fair to say that Griekspoor doesn’t enjoy clay, whereas in Arnaldi, you have a player who understands the surface even if not quite being successful on it.
Sebastián Báez and Roman Andrés Burruchaga also arrive in Paris.