The French Open is the one Grand Slam which begins on a Sunday so we have something to enjoy while we tuck into our roast dinner this weekend. Much of the first round is saved for Monday and Tuesday across the Roland Garros complex but there are a few singles matches around the grounds on Sunday.
Generally the truly big names will come along later in the week but we do have a few household names taking to the clay courts on Sunday looking to get their campaigns off to winning starts.
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Philippe Chatrier Court
The ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov is first up on the main show court on Sunday. He takes on Viktor Troicki before the home favourite Alize Cornet gets the chance to thrill her home crowd. She faces the tricky test of Sara Errani though. Another home hero follows that match when Lucas Pouille goes up against the talented, if a little temperamental, Russian, Danill Medvedev. The opening day concludes on this course with Jelena Ostapenko beginning the defence of her title against Kateryna Kozlova.
Suzanne Lenglen Court
It is the favourite for the women’s title and the Rome Masters champion Elina Svitolina who is first up on Lenglen on Sunday. She takes on Ajla Tomljanovic before an all-French clash in the men’s draw as Gael Monfils goes up against Elliot Benchetrit. Venus Williams gets her campaign underway in the third match of the day when she plays Qiang Wang on China before the second seed in the men’s draw, Alexander Zverev, faces Ricardas Berankis.
Court 1
We have a women’s match first up on Court 1 when Barbora Strycova faces the Japanese player Kurumi Nara. Another Japanese player is up after them when Kei Nishikori begins his tournament against Maxime Janvier of France. British eyes will be on this court in the third match of the day as Jo Konta goes up against Yulia Putintseva before the final match on this court sees David Goffin taking on the Netherlands’ Robin Haase.
Best of the Rest
Not all of the courts are in action on Sunday but those with a ground pass will be able to see players such as Anett Kontaveit, Pablo Carreno Busta, Ekaterina Makarova, Ivo Karlovic and Petra Martic among others as we get the tournament off to a leisurely beginning.
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Betting
I’ll go with just the one bet on the opening day which comes in the final men’s match out on Court 3 as Federico Delbonis takes on the qualifier Thomaz Bellucci. I give credit to the Brazilian for qualifying for this tournament but there is a reason why he is languishing down at 269 in the world rankings these days and I think we’ll see why here.
Delbonis might not pull up trees at elite level but he has some decent form on the clay courts this season and looks to be hitting the ball well enough. He also leads Bellucci 5-2 in their head to head, all of which have been on clay. Delbonis won their last meeting 6-3 6-0 in Geneva a couple of years ago. Their careers have gone in different directions since so I’m expecting the Argentine to come through here with a set or two in hand.
Tips
WON – Back F.Delbonis (-1.5 sets) to beat T.Bellucci for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Betfair
Back him here:
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