The first day of 2016 French Open action will feature good friends Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock. Kyrgios is kicking off his campaign against Marco Cecchinato, while Jack Sock faces Robin Haase.
(17) Nick Kyrgios vs. Marco Cecchinato
The French Open is the only one of the four Grand Slams at which Kyrgios has so far failed to deliver any kind of memorable moment–although he did score a decent triple-tiebreaker win over Radek Stepanek in the 2013 first round. Kyrgios has to hope that Sunday marks the beginning of his first big run at Roland Garros. The 21-year-old Australian is 2-3 lifetime at this event and is coming off a third-round performance last spring, when he got a second-round walkover from Kyle Edmund before bowing out to Andy Murray in easy straight sets. Kyrgios boasts a stellar 21-7 overall record this season with his first career title in Marseille, a semifinal showing in Miami, and a recent quarterfinal performance in Madrid.
Up first for the world No. 19 is Cecchinato, whom he has never faced. Cecchinato has plunged to 124th in the rankings, but he was inside the French Open cut line at the entry deadline. The Italian is a meager 3-9 at the ATP level this year and 0-3 in his last three clay-court matches, but he at least managed to take a set off Milos Raonic in the Rome opening round. Cecchinato has never won a main-draw match at a Grand Slam and there is no reason to think he will get on the scoreboard at Kyrgios’ expense.
Pick: Kyrgios in 3
(23) Jack Sock vs. Robin Haase
Sock and Haase will also be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers on Sunday. Sock’s season got off to an outstanding start with four good wins in Auckland, but he ended up retiring against Roberto Bautista Agut in the final and the momentum has never been regained. The 25th-ranked American is a mediocre 13-9 on the year and 3-2 on the European clay-court swing.
Haase’s 2016 campaign has been disappointing on the court and downright bizarre off the court. He has hired former WTA professional Kristie Boogert as his new coach–at least for the French Open–because his former coach is currently a murder suspect. The 86th-ranked Dutchman is 8-10 for the season and he failed to emerge from qualifying in either Madrid or Rome. Haase is 4-7 lifetime at this Grand Slam and has never gotten past the second round, while Sock is 6-3 and five of his victories have come in the last two seasons. The 23rd seed made a run to the last 16 in 2015 before falling to Rafael Nadal in four sets. All signs point to Sock coasting through this one.
Pick: Sock in 3
The post French Open R1 previews and predictions: Kyrgios vs. Cecchinato, Sock vs. Haase appeared first on The Grandstand.