Stefanos Tsitsipas will kick off his Roland Garros campaign against Lorenzo Musetti, who made his way to the fourth round in Paris in 2021. Also in an open bottom half of the draw, Jannik Sinner will take the court on Tuesday against Bjorn Fratangelo.
(4) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Lorenzo Musetti
Stefanos Tsitsipas was oh-so-close to his first Grand Slam title at the French Open last year. He was up two sets to none on Novak Djokovic before the Serb came roaring back to pocket the double-career Grand Slam. Tsitsipas has had an excellent 2022 season so far, with a semifinal showing in Melbourne and the title in Monte-Carlo.
Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, ranked 66th in the world, had a breakthrough performance at the French Open last year. He made his way to the round of 16 and took the first two sets off Novak Djokovic before collapsing completely and eventually retiring down 4-0 in the fifth.
Tsitsipas has won both of his previous matches against Musetti, including a three-set encounter on the clay courts of Lyon last year. The Italian had a good run at the Madrid Masters, where he successfully qualified and made it to the round of 16–so he might make the Greek work for his first round win. Tsistipas should advance, but don’t be surprised if Musetti gets a set.
Cheryl pick: Tsitsipas in 4
Ricky pick: Tsitsipas in 4
(11) Jannik Sinner vs. (Q) Bjorn Fratangelo
Jannik Sinner is the highest-ranked Italian in the French Open draw. The young Italian star is a tidy 24-6 on the season, although he hasn’t made it past the quarterfinals at any event in 2022. He has produced a solid European clay swing so far, with no real surprise losses.
He will begin his fortnight against the American qualifier, Bjorn Fratangelo, ranked 186 in the world. Fratangelo did well to earn a spot in the main draw, but running into Sinner right away will do the American no favors. Sinner rarely bows out when he’s favored to win and he is plenty comfortable on the dirt.
This should be smooth sailing for Sinner. Expect him to advance in straight sets.
Cheryl pick: Sinner in 3
Ricky pick: Sinner in 3
Ditto Cheryl on both. (Would love a Musetti upset.)
Tsitsipas looks like he is about to have a nervous breakDown
First set Musetti
Tsistipas is incredibly tense. He could be in trouble
Tsitsipas has lost 7 games in a row and is double break down
He is so tense!
Is really in trouble
Yes he’s about to go down 2 breaks!!
This Mussetti is playing some great tennis!! Now imagine the bottom half is so lame and then if Steph loses here well what do u have, Simon in the final?
I think it was last year this Mussetti had Novak 2 sets down and choked in the end. So let’s c what happens this time!! Very interesting!!
Rudd is there! I like him…
Yeah but he was also playing surlier tense against Tsonga! If Tsonga was fitter don’t think Rudd would have faired well. But if Steph relaxes and start using his head he can still do this perhaps in 5! But Steph is no Rafa, lol 😂🤣🤣
Meanwhile Simon is giving a good account of himself. He is not going down lightly!! Rafa does not like playing him much, lol
Steph looks like he”s already given up! These guys need to understand that in a GS things will not always go ure way so embrace it and just play ure game. Things could always turn around!!
No, Tsitsipas hasn’t given up and he now wins the match! He has being through tough five setters, he’s the fitter of the two and so outlasts Mussetti.
I know Mussetti is a tough first round opponent, remember, this is the same Mussetti who had given Djoko nightmare last year at RG, pushed Djoko to a fifth set too.
Congrats Tsitsipas for the hard fought win, will be doing better in the next round.
Gillou, Gheelou… Simon is a hero. Gilles was given wings again by his French fans. We have all seen it before when Gilles has nothing left but he keeps going on when he should have been long gone. He says he is not ready to quit yet. I can’t believe he beat PCB in 5 sets. The 37 yr. old Frenchman says he’ll still play some tour tennis.