French Open R1 preview and prediction: Wawrinka vs. Rosol

After a fair amount of play got rained out on Sunday, first-round action will resume at Roland Garros on Monday–weather permitting. Stan Wawrinka is scheduled to go up against Lukas Rosol for the second time in as many tournaments.

Stan Wawrinka and Lukas Rosol will be squaring off for the fifth time in their careers and for the second time in four days when they meet again in round one of the French Open on Monday. They just faced each other in the Geneva semifinals, where Wawrinka prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on his way to the title. The fourth-ranked Swiss is sweeping the head-to-head series 4-0, having previously scored two victories over Rosol on hard courts and another one on clay.

While Wawrinka is without question an all-court player, he certainly enjoys the red stuff. After all, he captured his second career Grand Slam title by upsetting Novak Djokovic in last year’s Roland Garros final. The No. 3 seed’s preparation has not been as strong this time around, but he at least managed to reach the Monte-Carlo quarters in addition to his triumph in Geneva.

Rosol had been 3-7 in his last 10 matches (Challengers included) prior to this past week, when he got past Roberto Ortega-Olmedo, John Isner, and Andrey Kuznetsov before losing to Wawrinka. The 68th-ranked Czech is 6-5 lifetime at the French Open with two appearances in the third round–including last year.

There is no reason to think Rosol will suddenly get on the scoreboard against Wawrinka, who can only be flooded with confidence upon returning to the scene of one of his greatest moments.

Pick: Wawrinka in 3 

[polldaddy poll=9423761]

137 Comments on French Open R1 preview and prediction: Wawrinka vs. Rosol

  1. Ricky,

    You said Wawrinka twice in the last paragraph. I think you meant to say – there is no reason to think that Rosol will get on the board against Wawrinka.

    I agree! Stan for the win in 3 sets.

  2. Definitely Stan in 3… Pairs just survived yesterday and Sock has thrown away a 2 set lead… What’s the forecast in Paris for day 2?

  3. WaWa is ratcheting up the pressure now and has got his serve working whereas Rosol’s has dropped away from the 1st set level.

  4. WaWa just managed to extricate himself from going two breaks down. Rosol’s downfall is he’s in such a hurry to finish off points he ends up with a heap of UEs.

    • I think it’s just part of his high risk game. Go for broke and hope it works.

      If Stan somehow loses, he’d be the first defending champ to do so in the first round.

      I don’t think players should be allowed to wear a kit the same colour as the tennis ball.

  5. Glad it’s not rafa out there. These cool damp conditions reduce the height he gets on the ball and Rosol is on one of his moods.

    Stan will slip to about 8-9 if he loses depending on what other players do. No.7 at best.

  6. I can’t believe it! Stan is in a fifth set with Rosol?

    Stan just got a break. This is unreal! I did not see this coming!

  7. I don’t like the weather. It needs to warm up and get sunny for Rafa tomorrow.

    Stan still up a break. I am not a fan of Stan, but I honestly would not like to see Rosol win this. He’s so obnoxious.

      • Oooh! The crowd booing sock because he was yelling out so loud at the end of the point. The French crowd does not like sock! They cheered when he faulted. Then he wins the match and they boo him off the court!

  8. Beautifully constructed point from Stan to get to match point. Rosol makes it deuce. I bet Stan would love to close it out now. Two match points gone.

  9. WaWa woke up to the fact he is a slam winner and manages to pull his socks up in the nick of time. Not a fan of him but agree Rosol is a j**k. Glad Rafa will not have to cope with him.

    • Amy,

      Buzz off Rosol! LOL! Love it! Now I may revise my initial thought that Stan won’t get to the semis. This is a really good come from behind win for him. This time he did not lose. Any time you can get through a tough battle like that in the early rounds, it’s a boost for a player. I also thought he played some quality tennis in that fifth set,

      • yeah nny…you could see what he was capable of for sure. that was a tough first round match and he showed some quality and guts to pull it around in the end. wasn’t easy at all.

        • They said that there was a rain delay again. I really wish this weather would go away

          Now the tennis channel is showing a story about Fed withdrawing and the end of his streak of slam appearances.

  10. stan has a good chance to get to the semis now.
    he looks like he could take out either murray or nishi if he gets there…

  11. ALLEZ STANISLAS!! I watched the whole thing and I was so hoping he could come back. Also Dustin Brown got his first ever RG win with a 6-4 win in the fifth over Sela!! Let’s go Dreddy!!

  12. Just seen the closing set Dimi v. Troicki.

    Sad to see Dimitrov going downhill and what’s more losing to the likes of Troicki. I’m afraid there will always be a cloud over his head as far as I am concerned.

    #fear of needles my foot.

    • Now they are showing Cilic/Trungelliti. Cilic lost the first set in a TB.

      Cilic looking sloppy in the early going of the second set.

      Wow! Trungelliti up a break 2-0.

    • I’m watching all the matches on French TV. The blessed relief not to have to listen to the rubbish that comes out of the mouths of the English team on Eurosport. As a bonus most of the time my favourite commentator, Jean-Paul Loth (former French Davis Cup captain) s covering the big matches. He is a joy to listen to.

      • lucky you ed! andy isn’t playing well no?
        his return is off. now got an audible obscenity warning.
        says he’s destroyed his legs!!!

  13. Anybody in the united states, please let me know the best subscription package to watch tennis tournments throughout the year

    • Vmk1,

      You can subscribe to tennis channel plus. I get the tennis channel with my cable provider, but you can get the plus package if you want to pay extra. I would check out their website for more info.

  14. So much for Muzza being touted as a possible winner at RG. The wily 37 year old is getting the better of him.

  15. It is looking doubtful this will finish tonight. For Andy’s sake hope he get out of bed on the right side tomorrow to face a rested Stepanek.

  16. murray’s shouting let’s go after almost every point he wins is un peu dubious no??
    wonder which murray will turn up tomorrow?

    • hee, hee. You could be right. I noticed at one point when he was clearly dropping the F bomb he kept his hand over his mouth.

      • there is a real unfairness though about the audible obscenity warning as it penalises players swearing in english. rosol was swearing his head off but no-one knew what he was saying.

        • Amy,

          Good point!

          I had an appointment and had to leave with Step up a break against Murray in the first set. So I gather that Steps won the second set and they were not able to finish the match today.

          I can’t believe that Cilic lost to that guy! Although from what I saw, Cilic was not playing well at all.

  17. A tricky moment to have to halt play. Difficult to restart with that scoreline. One slip from Murray and it will be all over for him.

    There’s no doubt Step’s prowess at doubles has given him a new lease of life in singles. Not so long ago he only played singles to keep his hand in for Davis Cup matches.

    • I checked the scores and saw that Dimitrov was up two sets to one and still lost to Troicki!

      He has really lost the plot.

      I saw that Steps was up 2 sets and then Murray came back to win a set and Steps was up 4-1 when they suspended play. That is a shocker. But I think that stopping play may take away the momentum from Steps.

      • nny, murray was up 4-2 when they suspended play!if they had carried on he would have run away with it.
        but now it’s a crap shoot. if murray comes out slow and steps is inspired again then he could take it.
        over a set and a half steps can win.

        • Amy,

          So Murray was up in the fourth set? Maybe I read the score wrong.

          It’s hard to know who will benefit from a suspension of play

          No way did I think that Murray would have this much trouble with Steps!

          This is why the early rounds are so dangerous.

          • Okay, I checked the score again and saw that Murray was up 4-2 in the fourth set. If Murray can pull out the fourth set to even it up, then I think he will win.

            But this has been some start to RG! Stan had to battle in a five set match against Rosol and now Murray is in a battle.

      • Lost in space, poor Dimitrov. Will he ever get his mojo and confidence back?
        I just watched Wawa v Rosol — wow, what a first round match! Stan was fired up in the end but Lucas really fought. Great tennis in that one.

        • Did he ever have it rc?

          He’s made a single slam semi and one slam QF.

          In 37 Masters, Dim Dim has two SF and three QF appearances.

          #Overrated

      • I would normally disagree given that he played all last week and had a tough five setter but no one in the draw to challenge him until a potential SF showdown vs Murray so you are right as usual VR.

        • One would think Rosol was the toughest opponent in Stan’s draw until SF — but Milos’ draw is looking good too. Stan v Milos QF.

          What if Sexy Steps takes out Andy!!?? Whoever wins has young French sensation, Mathias Bourgue in the 2nd round! wow.

        • Hawkeye, yes, that’s how I am seeing it as well! He has a really good chance of reaching the semi. We all know Stan is vulnerable to losing to non-big 4 players so let’s see. I think he will make it and if he does, he will be really hard to fend off for anyone not named Rafael Nadal.

          • Stan is pretty fit, so I don’t know that playing last week will catch up to him. We should keep in mind that Stan has been getting knocked out very early in recent tournaments. So he certainly hasn’t overplayed in that regard.

            I think Stan needed a good result before RG. Maybe playing that smaller tournament was worth it to get a good result and have some momentum coming into RG.

            I think this tough first match could also help Stan find his best form. He did have that backhand firing. He played very well in the fifth set and stepped it up against an opponent who played well.

      • I said earlier on another thread that I hope for a Rafa vs Stan final. I think Stan can make it after a tough first round.

        Murray is also struggling vs Stepanek. Murray will have a hard time vs Stan should they meet.

  18. For the record I still think it was stupid to play in another country 2 days before a slam starts especially one which you are defending champion. Cilic got burned from it and Stan almost did as well.

  19. Everyone, not including me, was going on about how Murray was going to sleepwalk his way to the final. I pointed out that having qualifiers in your draw wasn’t to be taken for granted and when Stepanek was drawn against Murray in the 1st round, I felt that at least some justice had been done. I knew Step would give him a run for his money.

    The match is far from over, but I feel Stepanek was getting tired yesterday after the first 2 sets so the fresh restart today will help him so we’ll see. It’s there for either of them to win.

    • kevin mitchell is pretty annoying. he writes a lot of rugby stuff where he is routinely pulled apart for his idiocies btl. is there a single tennis journalist in gb who is even close to the quality of tignor?? can’t think of anyone…

    • what a hold there by steps!! i think murray will win in the end….
      he usually plays well when he is fired up…
      this is getting pretty personal…

  20. Andy did well to snatch the set but he has come out fighting and doing a good job getting on Andy’s nerves 🙁

  21. The crowd are well and truly getting behind Steps. Andy needs to get in touch with his inner Scottish stubborness.

  22. Andy fails to get the break in the vital 7th game. He normally has such a good tennis mind but he is failing to anticipate Steps next step and being repeatedly wrong footed.

    • he should have been able to do more. steps has made a lot of errors with his dodgy forehand. murray has to serve now to stay in the match.

  23. Whew. He finally does it on his 2nd match point. To be honest he didn’t really deserve to win but am heartily pleased he did.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.




Skip to toolbar