Before each day of play at the French Open, we'll preview and predict three must-see matches. For full coverage of the season's second Slam, go to our tournament page.
You’ve seen Adidas' zebra-suspenders shirts. But are you ready to see them twice in one match? Thiem and Zverev will each be sporting the French Open’s unfortunate signature look of 2016, first up in Lenglen on Saturday. As hard as the clothes may be on the eyes, though, the play itself should be much easier. The 22-year-old Austrian and the 19-year-old German have been the ATP’s two most pleasant surprises of recent months. Each has seemed to get better by the week this season, and each plays an appealing version of power-baseline tennis. They’re also getting to know each other well; Thiem and Zverev have already played twice during this clay season, with Thiem pulling out both matches in three sets. This one will be by far their most significant encounter. The winner was supposed to play Rafael Nadal, but will now face Marcel Granollers. That’s a spot worth fighting for. I’m going to say the more experienced player will end up with it.
Winner: Thiem
Complain and you shall be rewarded. Gulbis has talked this week about being “forgotten” by the tennis world, two years after he upset Roger Federer at Roland Garros. Now—voilà—he has been handed a prime slot in Chatrier against a French opponent. Gulbis can’t say he’s been overlooked this time. Still, this should be an entertaining match on its own merits. Tsonga leads their head to head 3-2, but Gulbis has walked away the winner the last two times they’ve played. And as with Thiem-Zverev, this match got a lot more meaningful when Nadal, the highest seed in their quarter, pulled out.
Winner: Tsonga
How will the French fans greet their own two days after Crampgate? They cheered Cornet off the court on Thursday afternoon, so they will probably cheer her back on to Lenglen on Saturday. Unfortunately, that might be the highlight of this encounter. In their five previous meetings, Venus is 5-0, and has surrendered just 23 games in 10 sets. Can Cornet manufacture some drama from what appears to be a blowout in the making? Don’t count her out.
Winner: V. Williams