Roland Garros preview: Nadal, Djokovic and Thiem in a super-clash

The Roland Garros 2020 will be the most atypical edition ever in the history of the Parisian Slam. France is in the midst of a second wave of the global pandemic, with new restrictions, and this will surely affect the estimated crowd presence in Bois de Boulogne, currently between 1000 and 5000 people per day). It will also be the first time that Roland Garros will be played in the Autumn, despite the new technologies on Philippe Chatrier Court, such as the retractable roof and the lights.

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Dominic Thiem? One of these three great champions will be the winner of Roland Garros 2020, no need to go around it. Everyone else might just be extras this time around, unless old lions like Stan Wawrinka or Andy Murray have something different to say. Outsiders like Diego Schwartzman or young people like Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will have much less chance.

However, the tournament could be more unpredictable than expected: the autumn temperatures, the probable indoor matches on the Philippe Chatriere could cause some unexpected surprises. Dominic Thiem went to occupy bottom-half, the one of Rafael Nadal. This could be without a doubt, the most significant verdict of the draw. Novak Djokovic has Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the same quarter. 

Novak Djokovic could also find Pablo Carreno Busta, fresh from the semifinal in the Flushing Meadows bubble, who could represent a problem for Nole, considering when it happened with the surreal disqualification in New York after inadvertently hitting a line judge. Nole once again demonstrated her mental strength by winning the Italian Open, eliminating the emotions and frustrations of the US Open. In short, Djokovic up to the quarters could find the roadway completely wide open. Daniil Medvedev vs Stefanos Tsitsipas could be the second slice of the draw, which is also one of the most fascinating. Stefanos Tsitsipas could find Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16, while Daniil Medvedev could find Andrey Rublev in the same spot.

The Bottom-Half and the other stars

Dominic Thiem vs Diego Schwartzman, or Thiem vs Marin Cilic and Wawrinka vs Andy Murray: a timeless and fascinating part of the draw. The Austrian tennis player - fresh from the victory in the Flushing Meadows bubble and a two-time finalist on the Philippe Chatrier clay-courts, could have an easy life until the round of 16. At that point it will depend on Wawrinka, who in Rome did not appear in perfect condition. Diego Schwartzman has a good draw, and in Rome he reached the first ATP Masters 1000 final of his career. With this Gael Monfils, who could face Lorenzo Sonego in the second round, the road could really open wide.

Rafael Nadal could meet Alexander Zverev in his quarters. Egor Gerasimov, Mackenzie McDonald, Kei Nishikori or Daniel Evans could be on his way. These should be the first opponents of the Spanish champion who could then find one between Fabio Fognini and John Isner in the second round.

Here: in the same part of the draw there is a qualifier for Andreas Seppi and David Goffin for Jannik Sinner. Unlucky after the draw with Karen Khachanov in Flushing Meadows. For Alexander Zverev the problems up to the quarters should be very few. There is no denying it: the winner will probably be one between Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem. Nadal and Thiem could be on the same side of the draw, a situation that could favor Djokovic. Playing indoors could also favor the Serb. Outsiders Schwartzman and Carreno-Busta?

Roland Garros 2020 will stage from 28 September to 11 October 2020, with amazing news from Bois de Boulogne, like the roof and the lights on the Philippe Chatrier, and the presence of the crowds, despite there is an hard health emergency in Paris.

ROLAND GARROS 2020 MEN'S SINGLES PERCENTAGES

Rafael Nadal, Nova Djokovic and Dominic Thiem all 30%, Alexander Zverev 10%

Outsiders: Diego Schwartzman and Pablo Carreno-Busta

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3kJQfUm