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 

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33 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!

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