French Open Day Three Acca: Novak Djokovic to extinguish home hope in Roland Garros opener

It is easy to overlook the excellent record Novak Djokovic has at Roland Garros when you get caught up in the numbers of someone like Rafael Nadal but the Serbian isn't a man a player would want to meet in the first round of a Grand Slam.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert will be fed to the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the evening match on centre court.

Here we make our picks for a handful of matches at the French Open on Tuesday 28 May.

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Daniel Evans vs Holger Rune | Pick Evans

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Gregoire Barrere vs Alexander Bublik | Pick: Bublik

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Roberto Carballes Baena vs Constant Lestienne | Pick: Baena

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert | Pick: Djokovic

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Mirra Andreeva vs Emina Bektas | Pick: Andreeva

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Madison Keys vs Renata Zarazua | Pick: Keys

French Open 2024 Women's singles: Erika Andreeva vs Aryna Sabalenka | Pick: Sabalenka

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Victoria Azarenka vs Nadia Podoroska | Pick: Azarenka

 

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French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Daniel Evans vs Holger Rune

Great Britain's Dan Evans has the chance to turn a nightmare first-round draw into a huge match win.

This will be the first match between these players and a real shot for Evans to save his clay swing.

Evans is 2-6 in eight matches on clay this season and while Rune has a better record at 6-4 he also hasn't lit up the tour on the red stuff.

If Evans can find a way to induce some frustration in Rune he could find a way to win the match as well.

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Gregoire Barrere vs Alexander Bublik

Alexander Bublik holds a 4-2 lead over Gregoire Barrere but the players have never met on clay.

They have played each other in France on three occasions with Bublik bookending the rivalry with wins on either side of a Barrere triumph in Montpellier in 2023.

Bublik isn't a player who loves clay but he has improved on the surface over time.

Barrere has more matches on the surface this season but cannot afford to think of himself as the favourite against a dangerous player like Bublik.

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Roberto Carballes Baena vs Constant Lestienne

These players have met twice before splitting the wins but this will be the biggest stage they have shared by far.

Lestienne will need to draw on that home crowd to beat a player who usually enjoys clay.

Baena hasn't been at his best over the swing going 10-10 so far but faces a player yet to win on clay this season.

Baena also holds a big lead on the ATP Rankings and should win this match handily.

 

French Open 2024 Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert

Novak Djokovic beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert in their only previous meeting at the Paris Masters over ten years ago.

Their second meeting is also in Paris but this time at Roland Garros where Djokovic is chasing his 25th Grand Slam.

Djokovic is among the favourites despite an indifferent clay swing and he wasn't helped by being struck in the head by a water bottle in Rome.

He should be dialled in for Grand Slam tennis though and Herbert shouldn't stand a chance.

 

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Mirra Andreeva vs Emina Bektas

Mirra Andreeva returns to Roland Garros hoping for more clay court magic after a good run in Madrid a few weeks back.

Andreeva lost first up in Rome but has a chance to hit the ground running at Roland Garros.

She will face Emina Bektas who is playing her first match on clay all season.

Bektas was in Japan a few days ago and shouldn't even come close to challenging Andreeva.

 

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Madison Keys vs Renata Zarazua

Renata Zarazua has a pedigree on clay that should give Madison Keys pause.

However, Keys sports the better record on the surface this season which will count for far more.

Keys could see the French Open as a great chance for another deep run at a Grand Slam.

Zarazua won't go down easily but Keys could make things easier for herself by starting well.

 

French Open 2024 Women's singles: Erika Andreeva vs Aryna Sabalenka

Erika Andreeva will be up against it to get anything going against Aryna Sabalenka.

Andreeva will take an envious glance at her sister's draw more than likely with Sabalenka in top form.

Sabalenka is focused on achieving a best-ever French Open, after strong showings in the last two Slams.

This will be the first match between these players at any level and Sabalenka should overwhelm her opponent comfortably.

 

French Open 2024 Women's Singles: Victoria Azarenka vs Nadia Podoroska

Former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka also faces a tough first assignment against a seasoned clay court maven in Nadia Podoroska.

Azarenka has beaten Podoroska in both of their previous meetings and should call on those experiences to get through this one.

In Rome, Azarenka reached the quarter-finals and she will want to make the second week in Paris.

Azarenka should win in straight sets if she shows the same kind of form at Roland Garros as she did at the Foro Italico.