French Open R1 previews and predictions: Kyrgios vs. Tomic, Querrey vs. Tiafoe

A couple of showdowns between countrymen are on the Monday schedule at Roland Garros. An especially intriguing matchup features Aussies Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, while Sam Querrey is facing fellow American Frances Tiafoe.

(21) Nick Kyrgios vs. (Q) Bernard Tomic

It will be a battle between combustible Australian characters when Kyrgios and Tomic finally go head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Monday at the French Open. It is an unlikely setting for their first meeting, as Kyrgios was a question mark to even play at Roland Garros and Tomic had to qualify just to get into the main draw. Slumping down at No. 208 in the world, Tomic did exactly that by beating Darian King, Jay Clarke, and Goncalo Oliveira. Now the 25-year-old seeks his first ATP-level, main-draw win of the season, although he at least managed to finish runner-up at a clay-court Challenger event earlier this month in Aix En Provence.

Kyrgios, who is returning from yet another injury, has played in only four ATP tournaments during this 2018 campaign–and none since Houston in mid-April. The world No. 23 took the doubles court this past week in Lyon, however, and captured the title alongside good friend and doubles master Jack Sock. But Kyrgios has played only two singles matches on the slow stuff this season, beating Bjorn Fratangelo in three sets before losing to Ivo Karlovic at the Houston event. With nine clay-court matches under his belt, including three qualifying wins, Tomic may be able to take advantage of a rusty opponent who is just 5-5 lifetime at Roland Garros.

Pick: Tomic in 4

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Frances Tiafoe vs. (12) Sam Querrey

Querrey and Tiafoe will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Monday. Their only previous encounter came last fall on the hard courts of Shanghai, where Querrey prevailed 6-3, 7-6(6). Seven months later, Tiafoe is already a much different player. The 20-year-old American has earned 15 of his 24 ATP-level match victories this season, a number highlighted by his first career title in Delray Beach. Registering five spots off his career-high ranking at No. 61 in the world, Tiafoe reached the Estoril final and is coming off a second-round performance in Geneva (defeated Ryan Harrison, lost to eventual champion Marton Fucsovics).

Querrey’s priority this spring seems to be his wedding (next month) instead of tennis. This has never been his favorite time of year anyway, as the 13th-ranked American generally does his best work at home in the United States and on hard courts instead of clay. He has not won a tournament match since the Miami second round, with consecutive clay-court losses to Guido Pella, Peter Gojowyczk, and Pella again in Geneva (both setbacks against the Argentine came in a third-set tiebreakers). A considerable edge in both current form and surface goes to Tiafoe, who can trade huge forehands all day long with Querrey while also showcasing more variety.

Pick: Tiafoe in 4

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