French Open Predictions: Eeny Meeny Miny Moe

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

Grand Slam picks always create tension at HQ. Not between the people who work at HQ, but just in general. Todd takes 100 balls onto the clay court near the Clay Court wing and just serves till the frustration goes away. That's why he has such a good serve. The Clay wing of HQ is lovely, all red brick and sunshine. The French Open office is large and spacious. The statue of Chris and Rafa compliment each other nicely. The signed photo of Graf and the canvas of Borg hang side by side. But I digress.

This year I have no clue. I usually blow these and Todd does pretty well. But this year I am going to blow these big time. I mean really. Whoever said I had any clue? So be prepared for these to make no sense because the clay always throws up surprises. So to try and get it right it has to be a bit whacky.

Are you ready? If you are, that's more than I can say for myself. If not, well, then it's time to pull out the Stephen King quote. In one of the introductions to his book is the apt sentence, "Grab onto my arm now. Hold tight. We are going into a number of dark places, but I think I know the way. Just don't let go of my arm."

So, are you ready? Good. Just don't let go.

Here are some pairs who I think will do well at the French this year. Again these may not be necessarily to do with being highly seeded or even pairs who will win it. These are a selection of pairs who should all win three matches.

=Ladies Doubles=
* Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza
* Makarova/Vesnina
* Carolina Garcia/Katerina Srebotnik
* Yaroslava Shvedova/Casey Dellacqua
=Men’s Doubles=
* Vasek Pospisil/Jack Sock
* Marc Lopez/Marcel Granollers
* Simone Bolelli/Fabio Fognini
* Daniel Nestor/Leander Paes

=DJOKOVIC QUARTER=
*POWER RANKINGS*
1. RAFAEL NADAL, ESP...Well, well, well. Djokovic drew the short straw. Never before have we had a top seed not being here in his own quarter. Especially when it has been Djokovic. But my hands are tied. Figuratively. I think Djokovic had to meet Nadal as late as possible. But this is about the five time defending champion. Nadal, seeded sixth, has Halys before encountering Dolgopolov or Almagro. That will be a test, but it is five sets. The straw I am clutching at, eternally clutching at. It is five sets. Mannarino lurks as the first seed Rafa can meet. With the home crowd he should give Rafa a go but he won't beat the defending champ. Dimitrov or Robredo await in the fourth round. Rafa may lose a set but he dominates one handers on clay. And then he meets Djokovic in the quarters. Rafa will want that day to be really nice. I don't like having to pick it, but I'll go for Nadal.
2. NOVAK DJOKOVIC, SRB...Djokovic may now never win the Grand Slam. Physically will he be able to compete at 29 next year when he is already showing signs of wear and tear? Who knows. But let us not get ahead of ourselves. Djokovic may yet win the Grand Slam. Djokovic has made 23 straight quarterfinals. Can he keep the streak up? Nieminen and then probably Muller await Djokovic. That's good -- that will get him used to the lefties, though nobody plays like Nadal. Kokkinakis and Tomic are both equally as likely to make the third round. Kokkinakis has won as much as anybody this year with all those wins in qualifying. But Tomic is the seed. Djokovic will beat either of them but will then likely run into Gasquet. He will play four different players, all with very different styles, and then Nadal. It shouldn't really effect him but it may well be a small factor. Djokovic will manhandle Gasquet, but he plays Nadal too early. Nadal won't be worn out.
3. RICHARD GASQUET, FRA... This position is as important as the Vice President in this quarter. Really, what does the Veep do? Dimitrov and Robredo have tougher draws than Gasquet. Gasquet has Anderson but it is on clay with the crowd behind him. I could've chosen any one of these one-handers. Gasquet should make the fourth round. And he should challenge Djokovic for a set. But really there is no third person here.
DARK HORSE: TOMMY ROBREDO, ESP...Yes, Dimitrov is here but this quarter is packed. Gasquet, Robredo and Dimitrov are interchangeable. Remember that Robredo has been to five quarterfinals here. How can you look past that? If we have a Dimitrov/Anderson quarterfinal I will look extremely foolish. But that's fine.
WILD HORSE: ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV, UKR... He has earned the right to always win this award. This is his award. If he finds form he could oust Nadal. But he has to find form over five sets. And he has to beat the consistent Almagro. Probably too big an ask.
DONKEY: GRIGOR DIMITROV, BUL...For no real reason other than he is the tenth seed and there's a chance he may lose in straight sets to Robredo. This whole section is just waiting for that quarterfinal. It's really the only relevant thing.
POOR GUY: QUENTIN HALYS, FRA...He drew Nadal. An 18-year old French wildcard. He is a sacrificial lamb.
=In the End...=
..Forget the experts saying Djokovic is the favorite. Yeah, they're right, he is. But I still back Nadal.

DJOKOVIC D. GASQUET
NADAL D. ROBREDO
==
NADAL D. DJOKOVIC

=MURRAY QUARTER=
*POWER RANKINGS*
1T. ANDY MURRAY, GBR...See Murray and Ferrer are split here. Unlike above where Rafa just shades Novak, here both players are equal. Murray is on form and had one of the best swings on the tour. He has won his first two titles on the dirt. He has humbled Nadal. He looks good. But he has a horror draw. He is 0-4 against Ferrer on clay. Sadly, like last time, there are two big guys and it's going to be hard to stop them. Luckily these two are more beatable. But that's like saying Jeb Bush is slightly more competent than George Bush. Before he gets to clash with Ferru, Murray has to navigate a difficult draw. Arguello may only be 22. He may be around the 100 mark but he is dangerous. On clay he could be a nuisance. Murray will be given a small test to start with. Pospisil or Sousa await him after that. And then Kyrgios. Ryan Harrison took a set off Murray in Australia a few years back. On Murray's worst surface, an in-form Kyrgios will pose ore than a few problems. He could make it go five. He could win. If Murray wins that then Goffin or Isner await. That is not a fun draw.
1T. DAVID FERRER, ESP...Ferrer must be loving the fact Murray has such a bad draw. And Federer must love that all the big boys and Ferrer, too, are up here. It's like the Super Bowl. All the good teams are up here in the NFC. The AFC has Berdych [Denver -- talented but never seems to win in the big moments], Nishikori who represents the Colts and Federer who is like the Patriots. It's a good metaphor on ATP BACKSPIN at last. But I digress. Ferrer has Lacko and then Traver or Brazilian Souza [Muzza has Portuguese Sousa] but he shouldn't lose a set. Troicki is seeded around 30 and should be waiting in the third round. Mayer, Cilic, Vesely or possibly Janowicz could all be fourth round opponents. That is an acceptable draw. Ferrer and Murray looks close to inevitable here.
3. DAVID GOFFIN, BEL...Perhaps a run here is a possibility for the Belgian star. He nearly beat Federer here in 2012. He had a great run that year and his form is good. Krajinovic, Giraldo or Young and then Isner is a decent draw. Goffin could defeat Murray and then beat Ferrer to make a semi-final. He could do it. But it is sadly unlikely.
DARK HORSE: NICK KYRGIOS, AUS...Was anyone else going to get it? If he beats Murray another slam quarterfinal surely beckons. Kyrgios has the weapons and the belief to cause some serious trouble here. If he drags Murray into a five set, four hour plus war on a hot day, he may well physically scupper Murray. He could play a huge role in the tournament.
WILD HORSE: JERZY JANOWICZ, POL...He got given a kind draw. If he can take advantage and get to the third round he may be able to upset Cilic. Or he could lose to French qualifier Hamou.
DONKEY: MARIN CILIC, CRO...He looks ripe for the upset. Who really knows what will happen, but don't bet on Cilic doing anything much here.
POOR GUY: JOHN ISNER, USA...He drew Seppi. Now that is a nasty draw.
=In the End...=
I gamble because I just don't trust the consistency of Murray. Ferrer's consistency proves to be enough.

MURRAY D. GOFFIN
FERRER D. MAYER [ARG]
==
FERRER D. MURRAY

=BERDYCH QUARTER=
*POWER RANKINGS*
1. TOMAS BERDYCH, CZE...I don't think Berdych is out and out the favorite here. But let us give him the nod anyway. He bested Kei by ten ranking points to earn the fourth seed. Still, his quarter is a toss up. Kei himself lurks here. There are a few dangerous layers lurking here and there. Tread carefully, Tomas. Berdman would open with Japanese qualifier Nishioka but then he gets the winner of Dodig/Stepanek. Stepanek may push him to four. Fognini or Paire is a likely third round match. That is going to be a fiery second round clash and it'll likely be on a big court, too. Tsonga, Kohlschreiber or Andujar is next up. That is a tricky draw but not as bad as the draw some of his colleagues have. Nishikori and Berdych slugging it out on the clay is going to be brutal. Expect one of the most physical matches of the year.
2. KEI NISHIKORI, JPN...One of these days Nishikori has to win a slam. Most players of Kei's level have about 20 legitimate chances to win a slam. It's vital they aren't wasted. Had Nishikori just won a single match more he would be the fourth seed. Still, there is no use dwelling. He has to look forward. And forward he has a mixed bag of a draw. Mathieu with the crowd behind him is an awful first match, and you can bet it will be on Phillipe Chatrier. It just will be. Bellucci and Verdasco should be his next two opponents and he will lose a set to one of them. Bautista Agut or Lopez may well be the fourth round foe. That draw is not easy but it isn't too punishing. Kei and Berdych is almost certainly going to be what this comes down. Gosh this draw is boring.
3. JO-WILFRIED TSONGA, FRA...Lindell, Kukushkin and then Kohl. That draw combined with the French crowd give Tsonga a shot at getting some momentum. And if he can get some momentum then the fireworks will happen. Besides it's Jo. Isn't he magic?
DARK HORSE: BAUTISTA-AGUT, ESP...Lopez just wants to get on the grass. He will play well here but he is better built for the grassy havens of Wimbledon. Agut is great on clay and he can roll through to the fourth round. Ymer is also hanging around here. He is worth a mention.
WILD HORSE: FABIO FOGNINI, ITA...Some of these need no explanation.
DONKEY: n/a...nobody here really looks all that vulnerable.
POOR GUY: BAUTISTA-AGUT ESP...He lands German Mayer in the first round. Unlucky. But the German does best on the grass.
=In the End...=
...Nobody stops the Berdykori express. Entertainment and upsets abound here but it ends up being boringly straightforward. And Berdych chokes in the fifth set of an epic and bruising encounter. Nishikori has a habit of pulling out matches like that and he is 3-1 against the Czech.

NISHIKORI D. BAUTISTA-AGUT
BERDYCH D.TSONGA
==
NISHIKORI D. BERDYCH

=FEDERER QUARTER=
*POWER RANKINGS*
1. ROGER FEDERER, SUI...I shall steal a tweet SI sent out. It was just a gif of this:



And how accurate it is. For old times sake Falla lurks in the first round. Federer has to make sure he puts Granollers [and his grunt] away quickly. He won't want the Spaniard hanging around dragging him into a long slugging match. Karlovic, Youzhny and Baghdatis await Federer in the third. Well, one of them does anyway. Then Monfils in the fourth will be a test, but Federer has to beat comfortably one of these days. And then Wawrinka. But Vavsy capitulates against Federer every single time they play. Federer should be fine until the semi-finals.
2.STAN WAWRINKA, SUI...Raonic withdrew and handed Wawrinka this spot. He also let in Verdasco. And boosted Isner up a seeding bracket. Stan should be so grateful. Due to a simple twist of fate he will now get a decent draw. Ilhan and Lajovic are his likely first two opponents. Nothing too threatening there. Garcia-Lopez, who upset Stan last year, lurks as a very dangerous opponent. Tiafoe, Gulbis or Simon all lurk, too. He will likely play Gulbis in the fourth, but who knows with that kid. Could Stan just go on a big run? Possible.
3. GAEL MONFILS, FRA...Draws don't matter. Seedings don't matter. Form doesn't matter. Monfils is in town. And he has sort of earned this spot. Here in Paris he could win. Doesn't matter who he's facing.
DARK HORSE: ERNESTS GULBIS, LAT...He made the semi last time round. But, again, who really knows what will happen. If he crashed out in the first round to Sijsling he may drop out of the top 50. He will be dangerous at Wimbledon, too.
WILD HORSE: ERNESTS GULBIS, LAT...He deserves two awards.
DONKEY: MARCOS BAGHDATIS, CYP...He plays Karlovic in the first match. We shall see what happens.
POOR GUY: IVO KARLOVIC, CRO...He probably gets Baghdatis and Youzhny back to back. That is not a kind draw.
=In the End...=
Federer reigns supreme and remains on cruise control throughout. Monfils makes a bit of noise and Wawrinka avoids upsets.

WAWRINKA D. GULBIS
FEDERER D. MONFILS
==
FEDERER D. WAWRINKA

=SEMIFINAL=
#6 NADAL D. FERRER #7
#2 FEDERER D. NISHIKORI #5
=FINAL=
#6 NADAL #2 FEDERER

...Yep. I'm calling it. Federer sneaks into the final where Nadal is waiting. Federer somehow gets it to go four sets but Nadal will not be denied. Djokovic should win, but it's Nadal in Paris.



*WOMEN*
=ROUND OF 16 PREDICTIONS=
#1 Williams d. #15 Williams
#10 Petkovic d. #25 Jankovic
#4 Kvitova d. #23 Bacsinszky
#18 Kuznetsova d. #6 Bouchard
#5 Ivanovic d. #9 Makarova
#3 Halep d. #19 Svitolina
#8 Suarez Navarro d. #21 Muguruza
#2 Sharapova d. #13 Safarova
.
..Horrible draw for Williams. Azarenka lurks and so does Venus. But I say she edges them both in three. Venus makes Serena think twice. Stephens/Venus in the first round will be good to watch. Pironkova and Strycova also here. Petkovic can play her way into form. Errani is nowhere and Wozniacki on clay is an upset waiting to happen. Goerges and Sesil also here. Kvitova is the big name, but the Swiss ladies also lie in her bit: Bencic and Bacsinszky. Bencic plays Hantuchova. Mattek, Keys, Konjuh, Begu and Townsend all very dangerous. How can I resist picking Sveta? If she beats Bertens in the first round she could play Schiavone in the second round and then Pliskova in the third. Bouchard has 32 seed Diyas but Mladenovic in the first. She'll have home support. Still, I like Sveta here.

Never discount a former champ. Vekic plays Garcia in the first round and the winner likely plays Ivanovic. Shvedova may well upset Ana but let's give her the benefit of the doubt. Cetkovska and Jovanovski could win a couple matches. Peng opens against Hercog. Winner gets winner of Vesnina/Flipkens. Peng has never won a title. Makarova isn't built for the clay but she should still edge through to the fourth round. She has made back to back slam semi-finals, after all. Radwanska opens against Beck. Beck should beat her. Barthel and Krunic are also hanging around and can catch fire easily. Svitolina will beat Wickmayer then cruise to the fourth round. Halep gets past some combination of Cornet, Vinci and Davis to make it to the fourth. CSN has Razzano and Pennetta for company. Muguruza has Giorgi and Kerber. Australians are here, too. But really Muguruza should win all her matches easily. Navarro will be too good in the all-Spanish clash. Safarova has Pavylchenkova in the first but the winner of Puig and Lisicki should be her third round opponent. Pova opens against Kanepi. Stosur should beat Brengle, but not Maria.

=QUARTERFINAL PREDICTIONS=
#1 Serena d. #10 Petkovic
#4 Kvitova d. #18 Kuznetsova
#3 Halep d. #7 Ivanovic
#2 Sharapova d. #8 CSN

...Petkovic runs out of gas. Kvitova/Kuznetsova is a toss up, but the Madrid final indicates a Kvitova win. Halep frustrates Ivanovic. Halep will win a tight first set then run away with. Something like 7-5, 6-2. Sharapova just beat CSN. She should have too much firepower, but watch out for the Spaniard's variety.

=SEMIFINAL PREDICTIONS=
#1 Serena d. #4 Kvitova
#2 Sharapova d. #3 Halep

...It's another toss up. I like Serena to win it, though. And Halep goes a set and a break up but Maria gives her that look and Halep only wins two more games as she fades in the Parisian dusk.

=FINAL PREDICTION=
#1 Serena d. #2 Sharapova

...I think Sharapova can take this to three on clay. But it has to be Serena. Doesn't it?

Go to WTA BACKSPIN. They have Nachos.

I'll be seeing you all soon and far too frequently for your liking.

Galileo.

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