It can’t get much better for Kyle Edmund than 2018’s first slam. Or can it? Edmund will try to begin building on his Australian Open semifinal finish when he battles Alex de Minaur on Tuesday at Roland Garros. Marton Fucsovics and Vasek Pospisil are also in action.
(WC) Alex de Minaur vs. (16) Kyle Edmund
Edmund and de Minaur will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time during this clay-court swing when they meet again on Tuesday at the French Open. They just faced each other in Estoril, where Edmund got the job done 6-2, 7-5. The 17th-ranked Brit did not end up doing much at that event, but this clay stretch has seen him reemerge for the first time since making a run to the Australian semifinals. Recent results include a runner-up performance in Marrakech, a quarterfinal showing in Madrid, and a third-round finish in Rome (lost to eventual finalist Alexander Zverev in two tight sets).
de Minaur also cooled off following a productive Australian summer, but unlike Edmund he has still not gotten back in gear. The 19-year-old Australian, who was a semifinalist in Brisbane and a finalist in Sydney, has won only two ATP-level matches since that breakout two-week stretch. On the brink of the top 100 (No. 105), de Minaur is coming off a first-round Challenger loss to 409th-ranked Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on the red clay of Lisbon. Nothing suggests the youngster will suddenly turn the tide from his Estoril setback against a much more experienced and in-form opponent.
Pick: Edmund in 4
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Vasek Pospisil vs. Marton Fucsovics
Pospisil has quietly gone back to the Challenger circuit and done plenty of damage to resurrect his ranking inside the top 100 (88th) and earn direct entry into Grand Slams. The 27-year-old has already played seven Challenger events in 2018 (all on hard courts), with two titles and two runner-up finishes. At the same time, he has not completely disappeared from the main tour. Pospisil produced successful qualifying efforts at the Australian Open and Indian Wells Masters before reaching the Miami third round.
Up first for the former world No. 25 on Tuesday is Fucsovics, whom he has never faced. The 26-year-old Hungarian has climbed to a career-high ranking of 45th thanks to his first ATP title last week in Geneva. He also reached the quarterfinals in Munich earlier this spring, maintaining momentum on clay following a hard-court stretch that featured a breakout performance at the Australian Open (fourth round, lost to eventual champion Roger Federer). Based on Fucsovics’ form and the fact that Pospisil has not yet played a match on clay in 2018, the latter could be in trouble.
Pick: Fucsovics in 4
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who ya got?
Stan beaten in 5 sets by Garcia-Lopez!
Stan drops to something like 257 in the world. I’m sure he’ll get some wildcards, but me may have to start playing challengers.
Edmund in 3; Fvics in 3.
Edmund in 4, possibly in 3.
Fucksovics in 4.
I hope Fucsovics continues with his good form from last week. He played some good tennis last week to win his first atp title, should be able to win his R1 match if he’s not too tired.