Juan Martin Del Potro returns to Roland Garros on the heels of 2018 success and may not be greeted warmly by an in-form Nicolas Jarry. First-round action is also wrapping up with an intriguing contest between Lucas Pouille and Simone Bolelli.
Nicolas Jarry vs. (8) Juan Martin Del Potro
Following a four-year absence, Del Potro will play at the French Open for a third straight year when he takes the court for his first-round match on Tuesday. The ninth-ranked Argentine is not exactly a pillar of health right now, but resting throughout the entire months of March and April has him ready to go for the time being. Del Potro, a Roland Garros semifinalist last spring, is coming off a quarterfinal performance in Rome–where he fell to Novak Djokovic 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 after having two match points.
Tuesday marks the first-ever meeting between Del Potro and Jarry. The 2018 Golden Swing signaled the 58th-ranked Chilean’s true breakout on tour and this season his success has come during the more traditional clay-court spot on the calendar. Jarry reached the Barcelona quarterfinals a qualifier and just last Saturday finished runner-up in Geneva (lost to Alexander Zverev 10-8 in a final-set tiebreaker). The underdog is confident, but this may not be great matchup for him; they wield similar styles and Del Potro hit just about every stroke a little bit bigger and a little bit better.
Pick: Del Potro in 4
[polldaddy poll=10329323]
(Q) Simone Bolelli vs. (22) Lucas Pouille
Pouille and Bolelli will be going head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers and for the third time at the main-draw level when they collide on Tuesday. Bolelli has won three of their previous contests; two in qualifying and also via a 6-3. 6-3 decision at the 2015 Dubai event. They also faced each other later that season in Moscow, where Pouille got on the scoreboard when he led 7-5, 6-1 and then got a retirement.
A capable player on all surfaces, Bolelli presented Rafael Nadal with his second-most difficult test en route to title No. 12 at Roland Garros last year. Bolelli’s 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(9) setback made him more respectable than every opponent aside from Diego Schwartzman (stole a set from the Spaniard in round four), and that includes Del Potro in the semis and Dominic Thiem in the final. Meanwhile, Pouille has been a Grand Slam specialist so far in 2019. The 27th-ranked Frenchman reached the Australian Open semis from completely out of nowhere and aside from that run he owns just a single ATP-level match victory. Based on current form and the fact that he has three qualifying wins under his belt, Bolelli has to like his chances of extending his opponent’s doldrums.
Pick: Bolelli in 5
[polldaddy poll=10329326]
WWW?
Del Potro in 4 but 5 is possible. Jarry looks to be in great form and on the improve. However, Del Potro is more than capable of winning this in 3.
Del Potro in 4 is the most likely result.
I’d be leaning towards Bolleli but we all know Pouille thinks he’s a world beater at Roland Garros which should see him make this more competitive than it otherwise would be.
Bollelli in 5
DelPo in 4, Bolelli in 4
JDP IN 4….Bollelli in 3🇫🇷🎾
Delpo is gone. GG WP.
Er, gone on to the 2nd round? Is that what you meant?