Roland Garros - Men's Thursday Preview

Albert Ramos vs. Robin Soderling

Fifth seed Robin Soderling was pushed by Ryan Harrison in first round needing four sets to advance in the second round. Harrison made the main draw after Benjamin Becker dropped out, but impressed again.

The Swede looked to have an easy passage when the took the first set but the American battle back with a solid defense, the Swede made a lot of unforced errors on the background of a little bit of relaxation in his game but he managed to bounce back.

"I feel pretty good coming into this year’s tournament. I played some good matches in the past couple of weeks and I really feel my clay game is getting better and better. So I have high hopes for this tournament", said Soderling.

Ramos managed to beat Marti but wasn’t an easy match as the Ramos made 83 unforced errors in the match. The Spaniard hasn’t the same solid defense as Harrison and the Swede will found more opening spaces for his powerful shots.

Alejandro Falla vs. Florian Mayer

Important match for the Columbian Alejandro Falla, if he will succeed against the German he will bounce back in the Top 100.

The Columbian was solid against Starace making a solid match surprising the Italian, won 81% points behind the serve and didn’t lost his serve but against Mayer always had difficulties, mainly because the German has a unique mechanic on backhand wing, they met twice and Mayer easily won each time. But Mayer struggled a little bit and made 46 unforced errors while he made with only one winner more then Kunitsyn.

The German is known for his unorthodox style of play. He has a long backswing on his forehand and backhand and uses a lot of different slices and spin on his backhand side something that Falla doesn’t cope, but the weather will be windy and wet and conditions will favor more Falla.

 

Samuel Querrey vs. Ivan Ljubicic

Sam Querrey has made a sluggish start to his clash and has dropped the first set to tricky German Kohlschreiber. But the American found his rhythm and with 14 winners and only 2 unforced errors he controlled the second set with powerful serve and solid ground strokes opening up the court. The match continued on this rhythm as the German was sluggish on retrieving while Querrey slowly boost his confidence.

Also Ljubicic blast his way through the opening round with powerful serve but also made some errors on court. Querrey and Isner received good tips of how to play on clay, Isner took Nadal to 5 sets while Querrey beat Kohlschreiber, the American was solid on serve and movement well, the match will decide by a point here and there.

 

Andy Murray vs. Simone Bolelli    

Andy Murray is determined to impress in the second round at Roland Garros after his opening win over Eric Prodon which was a little bit tricky. The fourth seed lost only eight games against the French qualifier but was far from satisfied with his performance. He was solid on his serve wining 87% points behind first serve but he struggle to read opponents game.

"He's tough. He hasn't been playing that well the last year and a half or so but he's a very talented guy, flashy. He's kind of similar to Prodon just with more weight of shot", said Murray.

Bolellis’s game improves from match to match, he gains confidence whish is the main asset for him.

"I will try to play aggressive and to step in on court first and press him. Here the clay is pretty fast so I think he likes that", said Bolelli but the conditions will be slower.

Not an easy match but Murray played great against Djokovic and he improves also on clay from match to match, he frustrate anyone with his solid defense and if he will found his rhythm on serve is hard for him to lose, the Italian can keep close.

Xavier Malisse vs. Fernando Verdasco

Fernando Verdasco has got his campaign off to a great start in 2011 French Open maneuvering Argentine Juan Monaco in first round.

He started very aggressive, he was the player who dictate going for his shots and being aggressive making 64 unforced errors but also producing 60 winners. Monaco applied some pressure on Spaniard pushing him deep behind the baseline but he responded well, he had only a setback when he lost the second set but he controlled the match.

Malisse struggled against Tursunov who came after hard courts, the Belgian isn’t on his favorite surface and the slow today conditions will suits better to Verdasco.

Mardy Fish vs. Robin Haase

Mardy Fish beat Ricardo Mello of Brazil to reach the second round of the French Open. Fish never has been past the French Open's second round and will have a difficult task against Haase.

It wasn’t a real trouble for the American against Mello, he was solid on serve and was a little bit unlucky not to take in three sets, he fired 12 aces and only 2 double faults wining 78% points behind the first serve. But the Dutchman was also solid on serve wining 80% points behind the serve and made only 15 unforced errors.

Both are tough servers but Haase is more used to play on clay, the American made a competitive match against Ljubicic last year in the second round losing with 10/8 in the fifth set but the conditions were a little bit fast while today light rains are expected, the Dutchman has a much suitable game for clay, he will punish the American at the net while from the back of the court will resist better in long rallies, Haase opens up the court better while Fish still relies too much on serve while he is a little bit impatient in long rallies.

Lukasz Kubot vs. Carlos Berlocq

After in Australian Open beat Querrey in first round, the Polish player managed another shock win over Nicolas Almagro.

Kubot was 2 sets down but with an attitude of all or nothing powered his way back facing 2 match points during his come back, the Spaniard serving even for match.

Impressive match made by the Polish player but like in AO he might flatter in second round. He won against Berlocq in Madrid on some fast conditions, overall the head-to-head is 2/1 for the Polish player but now are overall on slow side and his power and serve might not have same power.

Berlocq had a warm up first round against Tomic and he didn’t pushed too much. The Argentine moves well on clay and has a lot of experience on the surface, he is not passive on his game and likes also to play some attacking tennis. The Polish player isn’t reliable in back to back tough matches while the Argentine is a consistent player.

Rafael Nadal vs. Pablo Andujar    

Rafael Nadal admitted he feared he might never break John Isner's serve after surviving a huge scare in the first round.

"I was close to going out. That's the thing", said a relieved Nadal.

But he has a good record in 5 sets and was necessarily to break Isner’s serve to break American confidence, but still Nadal wasn’t bad on his serve facing only one break point and he didn’t lost his serve.

He will meet for the first time Andujar who won a tight match against Giraldo. Andujar can be a tricky opponent but Nadal needs an easy win after his match against Isner.

Antonio Veic vs. Nikolay Davydenko    

Davydenko needed only 2 hours and nine minutes, they went head to head in the first set but the Russian controlled the match in the second set while in decider bounced back after he lost the opening set.

He will meet for the first time qualifier Veic who managed to bounce back against Cuevas, the contest last almost 2 hours before the injury-stricken Cuevas pulled out of the game with severe pain in his right shoulder.

The Croatian served once more very well and if he will keep his serve he can force a tie-break and anything can happen but the winner will play with Nadal in next round and the Russian needs all his strength, Veic has the game to remain close.

Jeremy Chardy vs. Gilles Simon

Frenchmen Gilles Simon and Jeremy Chardy are also looking for a spot in the third round.

Chardy managed to win after his only third win of the year and started very good putting a break up, his serve worked well and was the better player against Dimitrov.

Simon needed to work a little bit harder as Russell put a lot of fight on court and a lot of tensed rallies were seen.

The match is played in night session and things are slower, Chardy is with his serve and hard hitting from the back of the court while Simon has a solid baseline display and much defensive approach. Hard to back Chardy here even that he has the game as he is in poor form this year.

Arnaud Clement vs. Michael Berrer

Both came after impressive wins, Clement beat Volandir while Berrer won against Raonic.

Both benefit by some injuries of their opponents on court while the Frenchman struggles himself with some shoulder problems. Clement has the opportunity to advance and grab some points as even that the German managed to beat Raonic, he as off on serve and struggled as he had some back pains, Berrer isn’t on his favorite surface and is impatient in long rallies.

Lukas Rosol vs. Jurgen Melzer      

Last year’s semi-finalist, Austrian Jurgen Melzer easily advanced with an easy win over Beck, but the German received medical attention for his back in the second set and is hard to judge the Austrian’s form.

Rosol is coming after a boosting win over Roger-Vasselin, he was the player who made the errors but also the winners. Rosol struggled on serve firing 13 aces but also 10 double faults and he will try to push on serve to make an impact against Melzer.

The Austrian needs to take this one easily in order to rest for the tough matches that will come.

Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. Andreas Haider-Maurer

The Ukrainian advanced after he easily won against veteran Schuettler. It was a match lead by Dolgopolov, a good warm up, he was solid on serve and tried different things on court.

Haider-Maurer won against Sweeting and even that he was pushed to four sets the Austrian was solid on court producing 63 winners and wining 81% points behind first serve.

The Austrian depends on his serve and forehand as on backhand wing is prone to errors especially in long rallies, Dolgopolov can mix up on court giving no rhythm and putting Haider-Maurer always in expectative.

Tobias Kamke vs. Viktor Troicki

Firing 20 aces and producing 45 winners in three sets against Reister was enough for the Serb to advance in second round where Kamke awaits.

Also Kamke was impressive on his serve against Rochus as the German played an aggressive tennis behind a solid serve.

Both players have a powerful serve and hit with a lot of power from the back of the court and some tight games and sets are expected, Kamke when he founds some rhythm can be a dangerous player. Troicki is favorite to advance further but we don’t see an easy match.

Kevin Anderson vs. Juan Ignacio Chela

The Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela had little troubles in first round against Smyczek controlling the match from the back of the court, he made only 10 errors but also only 12 winners. But he was solid on serve landing 81% of first serve in and wining 71% points behind that. Anderson fired 22 aces and produced 64 winners in his win over Mahut but the Frenchman wasn’t on his favorite surface.

The match will be played in the night session and conditions are slower today, the Argentine needs to return well as he should take control from retrieving, Chela has a solid baseline display and will force Anderson to his another shot. Anderson has the power on his side while Chela has the consistency and experience on the surface.

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