If the weather permits, the program for this third day of the main draw of the tournament promises to be enticing with the entry into contention of Serbian Novak Djokovic, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet.
The shock to follow: the beginnings of the Djoker
Little adept at the language of wood, Novak Djokovic does not hide his ambitions.
At 33, the world number 1 - undefeated in 2020 on the field (he was excluded from the US Open for having touched a linesman while getting rid of a ball) - approaches Roland-Garros more motivated than ever.
“I really hope I will be able to win the title!
I really want to, I'm very motivated, ”he announced at the microphone of Europe 1 on Monday, the day before his entry into contention against the Swede Mikael Ymer (No. 80) on the Central.
The draw allowed him to avoid crossing Dominic Thiem or the king of places Rafael Nadal before the final.
A second success at Roland Garros after that of 2016 would allow him to win an 18th major title and become the only player of the Open era to win at least twice in each Grand Slam round.
French to watch: Richard Gasquet
The draw was not kind to Richard Gasquet.
At 34, he faces, this Tuesday on the Simonne-Mathieu court, the Spaniard Bautista Agut, seeded number 10. Between the two players, the duels turn largely to the advantage of the Ibère: six wins for two setback.
Their last meeting, last month in the round of 16 of the Cincinnati tournament, confirmed the trend (7-5, 6-1).
Quarantined after his elimination in the 2nd round of the US Open, the Biterrois, world No. 50, will have to achieve a feat to continue the Parisian adventure.
The Frenchwoman to watch: Kiki Mladenovic
She's sure to play.
Scheduled in second position on the Chatrier court, Kristina Mladenovic makes her entry into contention against the German Laura Siegemund (n ° 66).
An obstacle that seems within the reach of the 44th player in the world and quarter-finalist in 2017. But the Frenchwoman, who became the French heroine after her exploits in the Fed Cup final last year, landed in Paris without too many benchmarks and has not played since his exclusion from the US Open.
Considered as a contact case of Benoît Paire, she remained confined until September 11 in New York.
While she was due to return to earth last week at the Strasbourg tournament, she preferred to withdraw.
“Kiki” could find in the third round his compatriot Pauline Parmentier who also starts this Tuesday and who, at 34, is playing her last Roland-Garros.
THE MAIN MATCHES OF THE DAY
From 11 a.m.
Central Court:
Sherif (Egy) - Pliskova (Tch / n ° 2)
Siegemund (All) - MLADENOVIC
Djokovic (Ser / n ° 1) - Ymer (Sweden)
Shapovalov (Can / n ° 9) - SIMON
Court Suzanne-Lenglen:
Pospisil (Can) - Berrettini (Ita / n ° 7)
Samsonova (Rus) - Kenin (USA / n ° 4)
Munar (Esp) - Tsitsipas (Gre / n ° 5)
Sabalenka (Blr / n ° 8) - Pegula (USA)
Court Simonne-Mathieu:
Brady (USA / n ° 21) - Tauson (Can)
Querrey (USA) - Rublev (Rus / n ° 13)
Bautista Agut (Esp / n ° 10) - GASQUET
PARMENTIER - Kudermetova (Rus)
THE MATCHES OF OTHER FRENCH
HUMBERT - Polmans (Aus);
BARRERE - Dimitrov (Bul / n ° 18);
HALYS - Giron (USA);
MAYOT - Davidovich Fokina (Esp)
THE OTHER MATCHES OF THE FRENCH WOMEN
FERRO - Watson (Ang), Kasatkina (Rus) - Tan
