Day 2 of the French Open features 24 men’s singles first-round matches as the tournament begins to settle into its opening-day rhythm. The article is part of a broader predictions roundup that splits the matches across multiple pieces, with other featured contests including Stan Wawrinka vs Jesper de Jong, Gael Monfils vs Hugo Gaston, Tommy Paul vs Rinky Hijikata, Casper Ruud vs Roman Safiullin, and Rafael Jodar vs Alexandar Kovacevic. Writers Zain Mustafa, Ilemona Onekutu, and Amanda Bergman weigh in on the day’s matchups and offer their picks for who will advance to the second round.
In the first matchup, Alex de Minaur is backed by all three writers to defeat qualifier Toby Samuel. De Minaur’s mobility, consistency, and ability to handle lower-ranked opponents are seen as major advantages, even with some concern about possible fatigue after a strong run in Hamburg. All three predict a straight-sets win for the Australian, with Samuel’s first Grand Slam main-draw appearance expected to be a difficult test against a more experienced clay-court competitor.
The second match pits Marcos Giron against Yibing Wu in what is expected to be a competitive battle decided by who strikes the ball more aggressively and cleanly. While Wu’s shot-making is acknowledged, Giron is favored by all three analysts because of his steadiness, better point construction, and ability to grind through long baseline rallies. The match is viewed as potentially lengthy, but Giron’s experience and resilience on clay are considered deciding factors.
Matteo Berrettini vs Marton Fucsovics is the most divided of the three matchups. Two writers lean toward Berrettini, citing the power of his serve and forehand, as well as his recent signs of recovery. However, concerns remain about his physical condition and consistency, especially in a best-of-five format. One analyst picks Fucsovics, noting the Hungarian’s ability to make matches physical and Berrettini’s difficult season, including his drop outside the Top 100. The contrast between Berrettini’s explosive weapons and Fucsovics’ endurance makes this one of the more intriguing first-round contests.
Ben Shelton vs Daniel Merida concludes the set, and Shelton is favored by all three writers despite a mixed clay-court swing. Shelton’s serve, left-handed forehand, and growing comfort in Grand Slam settings are viewed as enough to overcome Merida’s clay-court familiarity and local crowd support. Though Merida may be more at home on the surface, Shelton’s power and experience in five-set matches are expected to carry him through, with predictions ranging from three to four sets.
Overall, the predictions suggest a day that should reward higher-ranked players with stronger serves, greater experience, and more reliable baseline games, though a few matches—especially Berrettini-Fucsovics—carry upset potential.
