French Open Tennis 2012: Bold Predictions for Day 2

Here's a less-than-bold prediction for the second day of play at the French Open: top-ranked players Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka will cruise in their opening matches.

Duh.

But if you're looking for something a bit bolder than that, I've served up three (American-heavy) predictions for the second day at Roland Garros. You may think I'm a fool, but at least I'm a fool out on a limb.

Let's get bold.

Ryan Harrison Will Shock Gilles Simon

Okay, okay, so maybe I'm dropping a little bias here for the American Ryan Harrison when he faces Frenchman Gilles Simon, the No. 12 player in the world. Surely the superior Simon will win this match in front of his countrymen, right?

Perhaps not. The furthest Simon has ever advanced is the fourth round at Roland Garros, so he isn't a force to be reckoned with at the tournament. Though he is 2-0 against Harrison, he had to survive a serious battle against him this year at Indian Wells, winning 7-6 (0), 5-7, 6-1.

If the 20-year-old Harrison (ranked 56th) can keep his cool, he has the ability to shock Simon. The talent is there. I say he makes one of the biggest early splashes of this tournament and pulls off the upset.

John Isner Won't Cruise In First-Round Victory

Will John Isner win his first-round match against the 121st-ranked Rogerio Dutra Silva?

Yes.

Will he labor a bit in doing so?

Absolutely.

Isner has really struggled of late, going 2-3 in his last three tournaments and erasing much of the early-season progress he made when he beat Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells. Clay has not been kind to him, to say the least.

Don't be shocked if Isner drops a set or even two against the inferior Silva. He'll survive with a win, but I doubt it will be pretty.

Sloane Stephens Will Begin Surprise Run With Upset Over Ekaterina Makarova

Stephens is coming off of a strong showing at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, where she reached the semifinals after advancing past a hobbled Maria Kirilenko along with defeating Timea Babos and Ayumi Morita.

While Makarova is a solid 14-7 this year, she's only 3-3 at her past three tournaments and is hardly on fire entering the French Open.

These two have never played against one another, so it's hard to know exactly how they'll match up on the court. But Stephens' speed will be effective on the clay and she has played well in Europe in the past.

Look for one of the rising stars in American tennis to make her mark in Roland Garros and advance to at least the third round.

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