French Open 2020: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction

French Open 2020 kicks off on Sunday with top players competing in Paris to win the toughest Grand Slam. Rafael Nadal, the 2^nd seed this time around enters the tournament as the clear favourite to claim his 13^th French Open title and equal Federer’s record of 20 slams. US Open 2020 champion, Dominic Thiem too returns to action at the French Open 2020. Dominic Thiem is seeded 3^rd for the French Open and would like to go one step further this time after having lost in the finals of the French Open in 2018 and 2019 to Rafael Nadal.

The top seed at the French Open 2020 is Novak Djokovic who would be in high spirits after his successful outing at the Italian Open where he claimed his 36^th ATP title surpassing Nadal’s record of 35 titles.

Several changes are taking place at the French Open this year with the Grandslam taking place in September this year instead of the usual May-June, due to the Covid-19 disruption. The conditions will be cooler and this year the balls have also been changed. The new balls will be lighter which will be supplied by Wilson as opposed to Babolat balls which were heavier.

Top Seeds at the French Open 2020:

1. Novak Djokovic
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Dominic Thiem
4. Danill Medvedev
5. Stefano Tsitsipas
6. Alexander Zverev

French Open 2020: Men’s Singles Draw Prediction

Top Half

First Quarter

The first quarter of the top half has the likes of the Top seed, Novak Djokovic,  7^th seeded M.Berettini, US Open semifinalist Pablo Carreno Busta , the talented American Frances Tiafoe among many others. Novak Djokovic has a relatively easier draw to the quarterfinals with his first round opponent being M.Ymer . Djokovic’s possible opponents includes R.Berankis, Tennys Sandgren, Karen Kachenov in his leadup to the quarterfinals.

The Serbian is expected to reach the quarterfinals comfortably. Novak Djokovic’s most probable opponent in the last 8 would be the Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut who is in the lower half of the first quarter. Bautista Agut faces a tricky opening match against Richard Gasquet and might have to get through likes of Pablo Carreno Busta and M.Berettini before reaching the last 8.

Player to watch out for: Roberto Bautista Agut

1st Quarterfinal Prediction: Novak Djokovic vs Roberto Bautista Agut

Second Quarter

The 2^nd quarter of the Top Half is packed with NextGen players which inclues 4^th seed Daniil Medvedev, 5^th seed Stefano Tsitsipas, 9^th seed Denis Shapovalov, 13^th seed Andrey Rublev among some experienced players like Kevin Anderson, Grigor Dimitrov. Daniil Medvedev has been given a tricky draw with M.Fucsovics in the 1^st round, with the possibility of facing Dusan Lajovic and Andrey Rublev in the next rounds.

Daniil Medvedev looked out of sorts during his return to clay at Hamburg Open 2020 losing in the first round to Ugo Humbert but however he is expected to reach the last 8 at the French Open 2020. Stefano Tsitsipas in the lower half of the 2^nd quarter has a comfortable draw till the last 16 but however he might be up against the Serbian Filip Krajinovic who has played good tennis over the past month. In the last 16, Tsitsipas will fall to the 9^th seed Denis Shapovalov who has been playing brilliant tennis over the past month starting from the US Open 2020.

Player to watch out for: Dusan Lajovic

2^nd Quarterfinal Prediction: Daniil Medvedev vs Denis Shapovalov

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Bottom Half

Third Quarter

The third quarter is packed with stars including two time French Open finalist and 3^rd seed Dominic Thiem,  2015 French Open champion Stan Wawrinka who faces his old foe Andy Murray in an exciting first round match in Paris. The quarter also includes Diego Schwartzman who shocked everyone by defeating Nadal at the Italian Open a week earlier, Borna Coric, 8^th seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils among many others.

The top half of the 3^rd quarter is anyone’s guess with the draw wide open. Diego Schwartzman has a relatively favourable run into the last 8 with his 1^st round opponent being M.Kecmanovic and potential opponents in the coming rounds include C. Moutet, Borna Coric. Dominic Thiem is expected to be another quartefinalist but however he has a tougher draw facing Marin Cilic in the 1^st round, Italian Open semifinalist Casper Ruud, Felix Auger Alaissime in the further rounds. Dominic Thiem with his prowess on clay should reach the last 8.

Player to watch out for: Casper Ruud

3^rd Quarterfinal Prediction: Diego Schwartzman vs Dominic Thiem

Fourth Quarter

The 4^th quarter has none other than the 12 time French Open champion, the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal. The quarter also includes 6^th seed Alexander Zverev, US Open 2020 finalist. Other notable players in the quarter include Jannik Sinner who is regarded as one of the most talented players around, 11^th seed David Goffin.

Alexander Zverev starts his campaign against Denis Novak and his further opponents might include Alex De Minaur and David Goffin before he makes it to the last 8. Rafael Nadal has a relatively comfortable passage into the last 8. Nadal starts his campaign against E. Gerasimov and his further round opponents might include Fabio Fognini, Kei Nishikori before he reaches the quarterfinals.

Player to watch out for: Jannik Sinner

4^th Quarterfinal Prediction: Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev

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French Open 2020: Quarterfinals

The 1^st quarterfinal between Djokovic and Bautista Agut should be comfortable victory for the Serbia top seed and he should progress into the semifinals in Paris. The 2^nd quarterfinal between Denis Shapovalov and Daniil Medvedev will be a fierce match with both Nextgen talents battling to reach the last 4. However, Shapovalov will just edge past Medvedev in a tough match.

The 3^rd quarterfinal between Schwartzman and 3^rd seed Dominic Thiem should be a tricky one for Thiem. However Thiem is expected to progress into the semifinals but he has to play some of his best tennis to beat Diego Schwartzman who is coming into the tournament with great confidence.The 4^th quarterfinal between Rafael Nadal and Zverev will be Nadal’s first major test in his bid to claim his 13^th title but however he will beat Zverev in a tight match and make it into the last 4.

• 1^st Semifinal Prediction: Novak Djokovic vs Denis Shapovalov
• 2^nd Semifinal Prediction: Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem

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French Open 2020: Semifinals

 The 1^st semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Denis Shapovalov will be a stern test for the Serbian. But however he is expected to end Shapovalov’s dream run at the French Open 2020 in a tense match.

The 2^nd semifinal match will be a replay of the 2018 and 2019 French Open finals with Dominic Thiem and Rafael Nadal locking horns in the semifinal. It will possibly be one of the most interesting match of the French Open 2020. Rafael Nadal will get past US Open 2020 winner Dominic Thiem in a classic match that might go the distance. Nadal given his experience at the French Open will progress into the final.

Final Prediction: Novak Djokovic vs Rafael Nadal

Final

Djokovic and Nadal will face off each other for the 3^rd time in the French Open final with Nadal winning on both occassions in 2012 and 2014. The final will be a gripping contest between the two greats of the game. We have witnessed many thrillers between Nadal and Djokovic in the past and the final at the French Open 2020 would not be any different. Rafael Nadal will beat Novak Djokovic in a tense final and will once again prove his critics wrong who doubt the Spaniard because of the playing conditions and the change from the regular balls. Rafael Nadal will claim his 13^th French Open title and equal Federer’s record of 20 Grandslams.

French Open Winner Prediction: Rafael Nadal

Also Read: French Open 2020: Can Rafa win his 13th title and equal Roger Federer’s record?