2016 ATP FRENCH OPEN PREVIEW

This Week In Tennis
Vol. 20b

Welcome to a prediction free preview of Men's Singles at Roland Garros. Rather than tell you who will win (a losing proposition), this special edition of "This Week in Tennis" will assess the form of the top eight seeds, offer some potential dark horses, and provide some etcetera information about tennis' second Grand Slam. 

Click here for the WTA French Open preview.

Embed from Getty Images

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SEEDS (Click to see the full men's draw)

(1) Novak Djokovic

Best Result: F - 2012, 2014, 2015

2016 Clay Results: 2R - Monte Carlo, W - Madrid, F - Rome
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Like many of the greats, Djokovic holds three of the four majors; McEnroe, Connors, Lendl, Wilander, Edberg, and Sampras all retired missing one piece of the career Grand Slam puzzle. The French Open has been Djokovic's bugaboo since 2012 when he lost his first Roland Garros final to Nadal. In his fifth attempt to complete the career Slam, Djokovic enters this year's event the dominant player on the ATP Tour for a second year running. Will he be able to get out of his own way and overcome the near misses of French Opens past? The mental question might be the one most pressing for the world #1 in Paris, one he will likely have to tackle against Nadal in the semifinals.
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(2) Andy Murray

Best Result: SF - 2011, 2014, 2015

2016 Clay Results: SF - Monte Carlo, F - Madrid, W - Rome

Murray has molded himself into one of the more accomplished clay court players on the ATP Tour. For much of his career, Murray's results on the dirt paled in comparison to his output on the other surfaces; that is no longer the case. Three of his five titles over the last 17 months have come on clay, and Murray enters this tournament fresh off a finals win over Djokovic in Rome. If he can summon his best aggressive tennis over the next fortnight, Murray might join Djokovic in the three-out-of-four club.

(3) Stan Wawrinka

Best Result: W - 2015

2016 Clay Results: QF - Monte Carlo, 2R - Madrid, R16 - Rome, Geneva

The mercurial defending champion enters Roland Garros after an underwhelming European clay season. His title one year ago came after reaching only one semifinal in his four lead-up events, so his lack of success means very little for his title hopes this time around. Considering his prodigious talent, Wawrinka remains one of the few players who can beat anybody on any given day. 

​(4) Rafael Nadal

Best Result: W - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2016 Clay Results: W - Monte Carlo, W - Barcelona, SF - Madrid, QF - Rome

What a difference a year makes. Nadal enters this French Open with the kind of form and confidence that he sorely missed in 2015. He won Monte Carlo and Barcelona for the ninth time each to start the European clay court season, matching his nine titles at Roland Garros. He ended his lead-up to the year's second Slam with a riveting two-set loss to Djokovic in Rome. While ultimately yet another loss to Djokovic, Nadal speaks of a renewed confidence and good feelings about his game. While not at his best level of tennis yet, it may not be too far away. All eyes will be on his potential semifinal match-up with Djokovic.

​(5) Kei Nishikori

Best Result: QF - 2015

2016 Clay Results: F - Barcelona, SF - Madrid, SF - Rome

Nishikori has had as good a French Open lead-up as any player not named Murray, Djokovic, or Nadal. For that reason alone he is one to watch in Paris. Still, Nishikori has only advanced past the quarterfinals of a major once in his career - at the 2014 U.S. Open. Injury and durability have been longstanding concerns throughout his career, and the best-of-five requirements of Grand Slam tennis simply don't bode well for him to overcome multiple elite players over seven matches. Unless, of course, he turns the proverbial corner in Paris. 

(6) Jo Wilfried Tsonga

Best Result: SF - 2013, 2015

2016 Clay Results: SF - Monte Carlo, R16 - Madrid

A semifinalist one year ago, Tsonga is France's best bet for a deep run on the men's side this year, especially with Monfils' withdrawal. It's hard to believe that Tsonga is already 31 years old, a full eight years removed from his sole appearance in a Grand Slam final. Goffin is his biggest obstacle to a potential quarterfinal showdown with Nadal.  Even if he gets past Nadal, Djokovic likely awaits in the semifinals. A final or championship run will require the tournament of his life. 

(7) Tomáš Berdych

​Best Result: SF - 2010
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2016 Clay Results: 2R - Monte Carlo, QF - Madrid, R16 - Rome

The good news for Berdych: his only real threat to a quarterfinal with Djokovic is Ferrer, who is short on match practice and recovering from injury. The bad news for Berdych: his last competitive match was a double bagel loss to David Goffin in Rome. The loss led to him firing coach Daniel Vallverdu. He enters Roland Garros under a massive cloud of uncertainty.
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(8) Milos Raonic

​Best Result: QF - 2014
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2016 Clay Results: QF - Monte Carlo, QF - Madrid, 2R - Rome

Federer's withdrawal bumped Raonic up to the eighth seed, a stroke of good fortune for the Canadian. With his absence from last year's event, Raonic (#9) has the opportunity to put some distance between himself and the cluster of players ranked 8-12, all separated by a little over 100 ranking points. He's got the benefit of a good draw to aid in that effort too; Pouille, Sock, and Cilic are potential opponents before Wawrinka in the quarterfinals. But, a healthy and very consistent Raonic should fancy his chances. 

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​​OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH

(12 David Goffin
(13) Dominic Thiem
(17) Nick Kyrgios
(29) Lucas Pouille

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​EARLY ROUND INTRIGUE

Schwartzman v Pella
Gasquet v Bellucci
Coric v Fritz
Berdych v Pospisil
Troicki v Dimitrov
​Kohlschreiber v Almagro

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​TOURNAMENT NOTES

Roger Federer's withdrawal from this year's event marks the first time since the 1999 U.S. Open that he has missed a Grand Slam event.  

2015 Champions:

• Singles - Wawrinka,
• Doubles - Ivan Dodig/Marcelo Melo,
• Mixed Doubles - Mike Byran/Mattek-Sands

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Other withdrawals: Gael Monfils, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Tommy Robredo

Great practice □with @keinishikori □□ here in #paris #RG2016 #RG16 pic.twitter.com/pBO0CgN7Yq

— Tomáš Berdych (@tomasberdych) May 18, 2016

Bonjour, @rolandgarros ! □□□□ #RG16 https://t.co/5ExvVe96hn

— David Goffin (@David__Goffin) May 17, 2016

Landing in Paris with a smile!! □□ #freshstart □ pic.twitter.com/28du7kByRG

— Vasek Pospisil (@VasekPospisil) May 15, 2016

#IDoWhatICan□ #JusTrynaMakeUFeelAtHome□ #GoodLuck□ https://t.co/oJduP8jvKh

— Dustin Brown (@DreddyTennis) May 17, 2016

Llega el segundo grande del año. Bonjour Paris! / Second Grand Slam of the year. Bonjour Paris! @rolandgarros pic.twitter.com/kjou8c6SYu

— Feliciano López (@feliciano_lopez) May 18, 2016

Rumbo a @rolandgarros □□□□□✈️!!! pic.twitter.com/CCVZwqqPsz

— diego schwartzman (@dieschwartzman) May 18, 2016

Seguimos en la buena linea! Improving day by day □@INDIBAactiv pic.twitter.com/jADGUMzJJ3

— Tommy Robredo (@TRobredo) May 18, 2016

​ON THE WEB

Where Does Roland Garros Get its Name? Inside the Stadium's History
Book Club: Late to the Ball
What a 10th French Open Title Would Mean to Rafael Nadal
​Memory Lane: Revisiting Rafael Nadal's Nine French Open Titles
​Can Rafa Realistically Win the French Open this Season?
Novak Djokovic's French Open Chase
Roger Federer Withdraws from French Open Because of Injury
Roger Federer Will Miss His First Grand Slam in 17 Years
Wertheim: 2016 French Open Seed Report