French Open 2012 Schedule: Day 2 TV Schedule, Matches and Bracket Guide
The second day of action at the French Open will feature both the men's and women's No. 1 seeds, and other big names. At this early stage of the tournament, we're watching for major upsets and unlikely contenders looking to make a mark for the first time.
The first day of the tournament saw Andy Roddick bite the dust (or clay, whichever you prefer), but we'll have to see what other prominent players are challenged or sent packing.
As the tournament progresses, the pressure gets more intense.
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Here are the specifics on TV coverage, featured matches and a forecast of matches the bracket may treat us too.
TV Schedule
(Info per USTA.com.)
| May 28 | 5 a.m. - 10 a.m. (Live) | Early Rounds | ESPN2 |
| May 28 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Live) | Early Rounds | Tennis Channel |
Featured Matches
(Match history stats from Tennis Datenbank.)
Men - Top Players in Action
No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. Potito Starace
The world's No. 1 player and top seed in the tournament will take the court. He should have an easy time with the Italian Starace. They met one other time, and that was at Wimbledon in 2007. Djokovic won that match in straight sets 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.
I expect another straight-set victory for him in this one as well.
No. 3 Roger Federer vs. Tobias Kamke
The Fed is trying to capture his second French Open. This has always been his weakest Grand Slam event, though he is still a formidable opponent on clay.
He should go unchallenged from Kamke. The two have never played, but the lack of familiarity won't stop Federer. This should also be a straight-sets blowout.
Women - Top Players in Action
No. 1 Victoria Azarenka vs. Alberta Brianti
The world's top player and top seed at Roland Garros started this season hot. She began the year by winning the Australian Open and taking over as the No. 1 ranked player. She ran into issues at the Madrid Open, losing convincingly to Serena Williams 6-1, 6-3.
Then she bowed out in the Round of 16 in Rome just prior to arriving at Roland Garros.
Azarenka shouldn't be challenged as of yet, as Brianti shouldn't present a major obstacle. She has one career tournament win in her 12-year career, and a 10-14 record this year.
This will be the ladies' first meeting.
No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Bojana Jovanovski
Radwanska's name isn't being mentioned enough among the favorites this year, but she has a legitimate shot. She won her last tournament at Brussels and she has captured three tournament victories this season.
Jovanovski has not been impressive this year, she has no tournament wins and a win over Radwanska is highly unlikely. This is also the first meeting of their careers as well.
No. 7 Na Li vs. Sorana Cirstea
The defending champion Na is only the seventh seed, so she still has much to prove. She clearly has the toughest draw of the higher-seeded women on the second day.
Cirstea is playing well, in fact, she took a set from Petra Kvitova in her loss in the Round of 16 at Rome. The two have never met before, but Na should be able to overcome Cirstea, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Cirstea take a set.
Bracket Forecast
Possible Matchups in the Men's Draw
Second Round - No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. Lleyton Hewitt
Assuming Djokovic takes care of Starace as most expect, he could get a slight pinch from Hewitt. Hewitt beat Djokovic six years ago before Djokovic reached his peak, and when Hewitt was still one of the world's best players. This is his only win over him in seven meetings.
Things have changed, Hewitt is unseeded, but still a fierce competitor; more than likely it won't be enough to upend Djokovic, but it will represent the first meeting of two major names in the tournament on the men's side.
Quarterfinals - No. 6 David Ferrer vs. No. 2 Rafael Nadal
Andy Murray is the highest seed in the third men's grouping, but I believe Ferrer is the best clay-court player in that bracket. In fact, Murray could lose before the fourth round, which is the earliest he could play Ferrer.
If Ferrer makes it to the quarterfinals, something tells me his countryman Nadal will be waiting for him. Ferrer did defeat Nadal last year at the Australian Open, but Rafa owns a 16-4 edge in the all-time series, and this is clay.
Rafa's dominance on the surface is legendary—still these two genuinely put on a great match.
Possible Matchups in the Women's Draw
Second Round - Venus Williams vs. Agnieszka Radwanska
Radwanska gets the pleasure or burden (depending on how you look at it) of taking on Venus Williams in the second round—if she defeats Jovanovski as expected. Venus won her comeback match in the first round, but she did drop the first set to Paula Ormaechea.
It could be an easy matchup if Williams is still working her way into shape, which wouldn't be surprising. Venus has never won the French Open, and at 31 years old and recently recovered from some health issues, she's a long shot this year.
But she could still be a very tough test for Radwanska this early in the tournament.
Fourth Round - Serena Williams vs. Caroline Wozniacki
Wozniacki is the player that mocked Williams' shape and trademark on-court grunts as seen in this video last year:
Wozniacki had reached No. 1 in the world in 2010 and 2011, despite having never won a Grand Slam. Since then she has plummeted to ninth.
Maybe she should actually pay attention to the way Serena plays, as opposed to making fun of her.
Especially since she has yet to accomplish a fraction of what the future Hall of Famer has. Serena owns a 4-1 edge over Wozniacki in their career series as well.
But in light of Wozniacki's little show, their meetings are always interesting.
Overall Projection
It still appears that Nadal and Djokovic are on a collision course for another thrilling final on the men's side.
Though Federer is playing well, I don't think he will beat Djokovic on clay. Federer likely represents the last legitimate obstacle to Djokovic reaching the finals, and I see no one to stop Rafa from getting to the final two.
I think this is Nadal's tournament, and he will continue his clay-court dominance.
As for the women, I'm impressed with Maria Sharapova's play lately. The world's No. 2 player seems headed for a final with Radwanska, but the women's draw is much more wide open.
There are at least five players with a legitimate shot at winning it all. Still, my pick is Sharapova to capture her first French Open.
It should be a great tournament.
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