French Open 2015: Predictions for Top Stars in Saturday's Singles Draw
Many of the top stars in action at the 2015 French Open will receive their stiffest tests yet at Roland Garros with a gripping slate of matches for Saturday's third-round play.
The final field of 16 in both the men's and women's draws is nearly set, but not before a handful of up-and-comers get their chance to take down a giant in the sport. While it may take a few more days before any of the household-name stars are actually taken down, trouble could begin brewing with an uptick in competition over the weekend.
Saturday's schedule is ripe with opportunities for top seeds to be overtaken, but those favorites could just as easily make a mockery of those thoughts by emerging with their best play. Let's take a look at predictions for the top matchups of the day.
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2015 French Open: Saturday, May 29
| 5 a.m. - 12 p.m. | French Open third round | Tennis Channel |
| 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. | French Open third round | NBC |
Predictions for Top Stars
No. 6 Rafael Nadal vs. Andrey Kuznetsov
Rafael Nadal's play thus far at Roland Garros doesn't seem to indicate he's ready to relinquish his crown as the French Open champion, like so many claimed before the tournament. But the tests continue to get tougher, heading into Saturday's meeting with Andrey Kuznetsov.
Much was made of Nadal's game prior to Roland Garros, but he's looked more than sharp enough to defend his title. He's averaging fewer than 15 unforced errors per match so far, proving able to keep his opponent chasing for the duration.
Kuznetsov has already tied his best finish at a Grand Slam event by getting this far, but he faces an uphill task Saturday. He'll be asked to beat Nadal in their first-ever meeting, at a setting where Nadal's only lost once in the last decade.
Although Kuznetsov has only dropped one set so far at Roland Garros, he committed a whopping 49 unforced errors in his Round 2 win. That's a lack of discipline that will play right into Nadal's strengths as he figures to keep rallies going until his opponent's inevitable mistakes.
Prediction: Nadal wins in straight sets
No. 3 Andy Murray vs. No. 29 Nick Kyrgios
Young Australian tennis stars will have their moments in the spotlight Saturday, with Novak Djokovic facing 19-year-old Thanasi Kokkinakis and Andy Murray going up against Nick Kyrgios. But the latter presents the best chance of an upset.
While Kyrgios has never beaten Murray in two career meetings, he gave the British star all that he could handle in the Australian Open earlier this year. He's been able to top most of the stars in the sport, but hasn't repeated that success against Murray, as told by Christopher Clarey of the New York Times:
The young Australian has proven he's more than just a powerful hitter with a dominant serve by topping the likes of Djokovic and Federer in his career. But it's not hard to see why he's been unable to find that same success against Murray, who is the game's best return man and takes away even the best of serves.
Kyrgios looked destined to top Murray in his home country earlier this year at the Australian Open—then, Murray crushed the nation's hopes of a domestic champion by throttling him in three sets. That doesn't appear likely to change at a different setting Saturday.
Prediction: Murray wins in straight sets
No. 1 Serena Williams vs. No. 27 Victoria Azarenka
The early-round match that the women's draw has been waiting for since its release has finally materialized, as Serena Williams gets her first true test of the tournament in 27th-seeded Victoria Azarenka.
The top-seeded American has struggled more at Roland Garros than any other Grand Slam setting in her career, where she's won only two titles as opposed to at least five at each of the other Slams. She hasn't begun this year's tournament indicating anything different, being taken to three sets in a rough third-round match against Anna-Lena Friedsam.
As Williams told Wall Street Journal Sports, she won't have a good chance to win Saturday if she repeats that performance:
As for Azarenka, she's looked like a contender thus far at Roland Garros without a set loss. But she'll have to overcome a career of shortcomings against Williams, against whom she's 3-16 and winless in eight Grand Slam meetings.
An unheralded opponent might be able to take Williams if she plays like she did in the second round, but it's hard to see her overlooking an opponent like Azarenka—whom she's battled with more than a dozen times. She knows that if she plays her game, it will be more than enough.
Prediction: Williams wins in three sets
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