Predictions for Week 2 of the French Open 2015

The real action at the 2015 French Open begins now, with top players fighting it out for bragging rights and two great trophies. As the battles heat up, we make some bold predictions for the second week of action at Roland Garros. These predictions are meant to be ‘on the edge’ and even one or two of these coming true would be great.

5: Andy Murray will beat David Ferrer in straight sets

Murray(L) with Ferrer in Florida, 2013

Andy Murray is having his best clay court season ever. He is undefeated on clay this season with a 14-0 record, and has won two clay court titles, including the prestigious Madrid Masters title.

Who would have bet on Murray being undefeated on clay this deep in the clay court swing? Now he will face Spanish warrior David Ferrer, who is unbeaten against Murray on clay. I may be forgetting the name here, but Murray recently beat one another man who had an unbeaten record against him on clay, in the finals of Madrid Masters. That guy has slightly better credentials to Ferrer on clay courts.

Andy will be motivated to continue his momentum on clay and he will beat Ferrer in three straight sets. Right now, Murray is unarguably the second best player on the planet, and looks to be back near his best. He will demolish the Spanish warrior on his own beloved surface.

4: Rafael Nadal will beat Novak Djokovic in the quarters

Nadal and Djokovic at the 2015 Monte Carlo Masters. Djokovic won

Nadal will meet Djokovic in the quarterfinals of French Open, in an encounter which many experts have already billed as the true men’s final.

Djokovic has been in the form of his life and carries and unbeaten 26 match streak into the encounter. He was won all the big tournaments since October 2014 and has dominated men’s tennis in a way never seen before. He is truly an unstoppable force at the moment.

Nadal on the other hand has been inconsistent in the last one year, struggling with multiple injuries and confidence issues. He has failed to win a single clay court event this European summer.

However, this is Roland Garros, and no other man in history has dominated any Grand Slam even like Nadal has done on the Parisian clay. Also he seems to have steadily improved over the last month and goes into the match as the underdog, a status which is often to his liking. Djokovic on the other hand faces huge pressure as the favourite and in-form guy to finally win the elusive French Open crown.

Something gotta give here. Nadal will rise to the occasion and beat Djokovic in a hard fought encounter. It will shatter Djokovic’ career slam dreams for another year and Nadal will carry the momentum to win his 10th title at Roland Garros.

3: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will reach the French Open finals for the first time

Tsonga at the 2015 French Open

Tsonga is one of the great enigmas of men’s tennis in the last decade. He has two huge weapons in his forehand and serve, and is a decent mover for a man his size. Despite all his natural talents, Tsonga has failed to live up to his potential, barring occasional glimpses of genius like the Montreal Masters 2014.

This time he is recovering from a career slide and has looked mentally relaxed and confident on court after a long time. He beat the no.4 ranked Tomas Berdych in the fourth round, playing aggressive tennis and his game seems to be on an upward spiral.

Tsonga will win both of his next two encounters to reach the French Open finals for the first time in his career. He has been to another Grand Slam finals in the 2008 Australian Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. He will lose again in the finals to a better player.

2: Lucie Safarova will reach her first Grand Slam final beating Ivanovic on the way

Safarova following her victory over reigning champion Maria Sharapova, who was knocked out

Safarova stunned the defending champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round, playing some great tennis to outwit her opponent. She has had a great 2015 so far, and has improved consistently as a player.

Her biggest win came at the Qatar Open this year, where she beat the former world no.1 Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-3. She also won her first Grand Slam doubles title this year at the Australian Open. Expect her to continue her dream run and reach the women’s final at this year’s Roland Garros. Her Cinderella story would end there though.

1: Serena Williams will not lose another set on way to the title

Williams at the 2015 French Open following her victory over Sloane Stephens(USA)

Serena Williams has had to weather a tough first week at the championship, with all of her last three matches going three sets. She has been inconsistent with her play so far, allowing her opponents to take advantage.

However, she has also shown her trademark resolve under pressure and has comeback well to win after getting behind in the battles. Yet again she has proved that she is mentally the toughest women’s champion arguably in tennis history.

Now as the final stages arrive, expect Serena to up her game and dominate her opponents the way she does in big matches. She will stream roll her opposition in her last three matches, not losing a single set on way to her 20th Grand Slam title.