American Frances Tiafoe will be in Thursday action in Paris against resurgent Russian Aslan Karatsev. Popular Italian Jannik Sinner will take on Germany’s Daniel Altmaier as the second round wraps up.
(12) Frances Tiafoe vs. Aslan Karatsev
American Frances Tiafoe is still looking for his best form on European clay. The world No. 12 won the clay-court event in Houston a few months ago, but since he has been in Europe he has only managed to win a single match each in Madrid and Rome. Tiafoe defeated Filip Krajinovic in the first round of Roland Garros.
Aslan Karatsev gained the tennis world’s attention with his shocking run to the semifinals from qualifying at the 2021 Australian Open. His ranking was as high as 14th in the world in February of 2022, but he slipped down all year last year and limped into this season, as well. However, as has become his habit he once again came out of nowhere–up through qualifying at the Madrid Masters to make the semifinals.
This is a winnable match for Karatsev, who is a slight favorite in the match despite the fact that he is ranked 62nd in the world. The Russian is generally more comfortable on clay than Tiafoe is, and he has clearly found the form that abandoned him in 2022.
Cheryl pick: Karatsev in 4
Ricky pick: Tiafoe in 4
(8) Jannik Sinner vs. Daniel Altmaier
With Daniil Medvedev out of the French Open in a first-round upset, Jannik Sinner is one of the favorites in the bottom half of the draw along with Holger Rune. He has come up a bit short in the past few events, but the Italian is a talented clay courter who plays well in the big moments. Sinner posted a routine straight-set win over Alexandre Muller in the first round.
Germany’s Daniel Altmaier is enjoying his best form of the season this spring. The world No. 79 came through qualies at the Madrid Masters and advanced all the way to the quarterfinals. It was his best result of the season by far, as he was still just 5-10 on the year heading into Roland Garros.
Sinner is the heavy favorite, obviously. Altmaier is playing well enough to make a match of it, but expect the eighth seed to advance in fairly routine fashion.
Cheryl pick: Sinner in 3
Ricky pick: Sinner in 3
Tiafoe in 4; Sinner in 3.
You don’t like karatsev?
Not me
Karatsev all day. You’re kidding yourselves.
Karatsev all day. You’re kiidding yourselves.
Karatsev all day.
Love Karatsev, but I think Tiafoe can/will do this. Key career junctures for both of them.
Zzyes karatsev
Sinner and Altmier are in a real ding ding battle.
Sinner is trying to impose his apparent authority but Altmier is having none of it
Sinner 3:0. That had to be a joke, yeah?
You need a serious review of your prediction model/algorithm.
I couldn’t get it that wrong if I tried.
Sinner’s not a clay courter