Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2021 French Open runner-up, is looking to rekindle some magic on the terre battue as he kicks off his 2025 campaign against Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Sebastian Korda will also be in first-round action on Monday.
(20) Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Tomas Martin Etcheverry is a tricky first-round opponent for Stefanos Tsitsipas. The world No. 20 has had a notably lackluster clay-court season. Clay has historically been Tsitsipas’ most successful surface with a career 122-40 record, but this year his best result has been a quarterfinal showing at the Monte-Carlo Masters–a tournament he has won twice.
Etcheverry, who is ranked 53rd in the world, comes into Paris off his best result of the season–a semifinal run in Hamburg, where he lost to eventual champion Flavio Cobolli. Of course, that could mean that the Argentine is already tired going into this match, but it is also a confidence-booster. Tsitsipas completely dismantled Etcheverry in their only previous meeting (2024 Monte-Carlo), although admittedly that was a different Tsitsipas than the 2025 version.
I’ll still give the edge to Tsitsipas for Monday’s match even if he is struggling to find his form right now. Look for Etcheverry to make it competitive for a set or two, but this one should go the Greek’s way.
Cheryl pick: Tsitsipas in 5
Ricky pick: Tsitsipas in 4
(23) Sebastian Korda vs. Luciano Darderi
Sebastian Korda has been mostly underwhelming this year. The 24-year-old had a decent result in Adelaide, where he reached the final in the first tournament of the year, and he made the quarters in Miami. Otherwise it has been disappointment for the American. This includes a poor run on European clay. Korda has traditionally been one of the few Americans who looks comfortable on the dirt, but not so much this season.
Luciano Darderi is on an impressive list of Italian players at this year’s French Open, led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. He is ranked 45th, a bit off his career-high ranking of No. 32 last year. Clay is his best surface by far, which spells danger for Korda. Darderi won the ATP 250 event in Marrakech earlier this spring, although his other European clay results were more in line with his ranking.
Darderi is a dangerous opponent for Korda. The American has not performed well in best-of-five matches in the course of his career and his best result in Paris is a fourth-round effort at his very first French Open back in 2020. This may well be another early exit.
Cheryl pick: Darderi in 4
Ricky pick: Darderi in 5
WWW?
Darderi in four.
Tsitsipas has been losing to quality players on clay, so no shame in that, Etcheverry has been lacklustre too and has been losing to worse players, he won’t be tired on 3 days of rest, so Tsitsipas in 3.
While Korda hasn’t made it far in events this clay season,it’s mainly because he’s been playing quality players early due to his low ranking, yes Darderi will probably have his chances and is a tempting pick, but Korda should get through this, Korda in 5.
Some other matches today I’d like to highlight are Fritz-Altmaier, Altmaier could be tricky and it could be an upset alert. Atmane-Gasquet which could be Gasquet’s last match ever, I think he’ll get through it though. Tabilo-Cazauz has the potential to be good. Fils-Jarry, Jarry could be tricky for Fils. Sinner-Rinderknech, they haven’t played in 3 years, but back then Rinderknech gave Sinner some trouble, even winning on clay, so the 1st set at least could be close. If you want to check out a young player watch Llamas Ruiz vs. Davidovich Fokina.
Tsitsipas has been losing to quality players on clay, so no shame in that, Etcheverry has been lacklustre too and has been losing to worse players, he won’t be tired on 3 days of rest, so Tsitsipas in 3.
While Korda hasn’t made it far in events this clay season,it’s mainly because he’s been playing quality players early due to his low ranking, yes Darderi will probably have his chances and is a tempting pick, but Korda should get through this, Korda in 5.
Some other matches today I’d like to highlight are Fritz-Altmaier, Altmaier could be tricky and it could be an upset alert. Atmane-Gasquet which could be Gasquet’s last match ever, I think he’ll get through it though. Fils-Jarry, Jarry could be tricky for Fils. If you want to check out a young player watch Llamas Ruiz vs. Davidovich Fokina. Sinner-Rinderknech could prove interesting.
good call on Alt
It was Tsitsipas in 3 and Korda in 4.