By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday May 27, 2019
Two days of Roland Garros are in the books and we’re up late thinking about Day 3. Here’s what to watch on the terre battue this Tuesday in Paris.
14, and Counting?
Naomi Osaka will attempt to stretch her Grand Slam winning streak to 15 on Tuesday in Paris when she meets Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia on Tuesday. It will be interesting to see how Osaka pulls up after having to depart the Rome draw with a thumb injury. She told reporters that it was nearly 100 percent before the tournament—and showed no ill effects of the injury in the practice that we attended—but one never knows with such mysterious injuries.
One also never knows about Osaka on the clay—she's vastly improved on the clay this season (injuries are primarily what has held her back) but it's not her best surface. That said, she’s a proven champion now, and an advanced problem solver. If she’s fit and firing, a deep run isn’t at all out of the question for the World No.1.
Delpo’s Coming
We’ve seen Federer. We’ve seen Tsitsipas. We’ve seen Nishikori. We’ve seen Nadal and Djokovic and Thiem. Now it’s time for fans to behold the form of Juan Martin del Potro, the man who has only played seven matches this season but showed the world two weeks ago in Rome that he’s rounding into form. Del Potro said he surprised himself by taking Novak Djokovic to three sets and three hours, and not just by the scoreline, but by how good he felt.
Can he keep the momentum going in Paris, where he was a semi-finalist last year? He’ll open against Chile’s Nicolas Jarry on Court Suzanne Lenglen on Tuesday.
Vika’s Chance?
Jelena Ostapenko has been a ship without a rudder in 2019, and Victoria Azarenka is a player that has been diligent and slowly and surely improving. Could it be time for her to mount a little surprise run? Well, her draw is a bit tricky, so let’s not get too crazy. She’ll play the 2017 champion on Court Simonne-Mathieu for the right to face Osaka in the second round. Forget about making a run, let’s just go one match at a time here.
Other Popcorn
The conclusion of Bianca Andreescu and Marie Bouzkova should be interesting. The Canadian shook off some rust on Day 2 and survived getting knocked out in straights, but will she be able to finish the feisty Czech off on Court 14?
More Popcorn, cuz Porquoi Pas?
Simona Halep begins her title defense on Chatrier against Ajla Tomljanovic. Will the Romanian overcome her nerves and continue her love affair with Paris? … Fabio Fognini and Andreas Seppi will lock horns in an all-Italian battle on Court Simonne-Mathieu …. Alexander Zverev and John Millman will kick off the day on Chatrier. Rumor has it that Ivan Lendl will not be present, and Zverev’s complicated personal and professional life could, once again, cause him to be off his game. Is an upset coming?