French Open 2011: 8 Players Seeded Lower Than 10th Ready to Make a Splash
Many articles are trying to predict long shots beyond the top three to take this title. However, I reach way out and try to pick players that are way out there (below No. 10).
While only two or three can even be mentioned in potential winners, all of these players are going to come up big this tournament.
8. Kei Nishikori
1 of 8
Nishikori was the next "big thing" when he burst onto the scene in 2007. He was the man that was finally going to put Japan on the tennis map. Although he has shown vasts amount of potential like winning a 2008 title in Delray Beach, injuries have greatly hampered his progress. However, this season he has made three quarterfinals and the final on clay in Houston.
Although the European clay-court swing has been tough on Kei, the French opens up for him to win at least two matches.
7. Juan Ignacio Chela
2 of 8
The clay-court season has definitely healed Chela's early-season wounds. He enjoyed playing in three consecutive quarterfinals during the "Golden Swing" and even reeled off impressive wins en route to the final in Buenos Aires. The trip over the Atlantic has brought some bad luck, but he was extremely impressive during the final tuneup, as he was a key component in Argentina's runner-up finish in Dusseldorf.
Lady luck cast a great draw on Chela, as he opens up with Tim Smyczek and should be able to go into the third round, if not further. Although Jurgen Melzer, a semifinalist here a here ago, is a amazing player, there is some major upset potential if they meet in the third round.
6. Juan Monaco
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Monaco, a clay-court specialist, has definetely struggled this year. Even on his beloved dirt, he is only a mediocre 9-9. However, for the past two years, the Argentine has stepped it up when he's played for his country and this year was no different. He played solidly in both singles and doubles, but unluckily he lost in the most important match. Still, it seems as if he has hit his stride in perfect timing for his favorite Slam.
He opens with a very tough match against Fernando Verdasco, but a win there should propel him into a final-16 clash with five-time champion and world No.1 Rafael Nadal.
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5. Milos Raonic
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Since the end of this year's Aussie Open, there has been a lot of talk about a new Canadian phenom, Milos Raonic. He is about 6'5'' and has a ridiculous serve. Unlike his fellow giants, however, he has more to lean on after the serve. He has played well this year and knows what it is like to win on the big stage. He pulled off some great wins in Australia this year.
If all goes according to plan, we will have a dandy in Round 3 when Raonic battles No. 4 seed Andy Murray.
4. Florian Mayer
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Mayer has had a career year, reaching semifinals or better in four occasions this year. He captured a team title with Germany in Dusseldorf and has played well on home soil, reaching the final in Munich. He will reside in the top 20 for the first time, and for Roland Garros he is seeded 21st.
Mayer should be able to walk into the third round, where fans will have a great match on their hands if he meets clay-court specialist Nicolas Almagro.
3. Thomaz Bellucci
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Bellucci has gotten off to a strong start to the year. His most impressive week came in Madrid, where he reached the semis. This was his first career semifinal at a prestigious ATP World Tour 1000 event.
He took the first set off Novak Djokovic and looked poised to be the first man to beat him in 2011 after going up a break in set two. However, Bellucci lost and was unable to beat his third straight top-10 opponent (No. 4 Murray, No. 7 Berdych). That week did really raise his confidence, as it let him know he can beat anyone on tour.
Bellucci has a tough first week, as he might have to battle the likes of Golubev, Gasquet and Djokovic. But as we saw in Madrid, with Bellucci anything can happen.
2. Nicolas Almagro
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Almagro has been the third-best player on clay this season behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
He came one win short in Acapulco of the "Golden Swing" sweep and recently won his first title in Europe of the year, in Nice. He fought his way into the semis in Barca.
A French Open quarterfinalist last year, Almargo gave eventual champ Nadal his hardest match of the tourney. He cracked the top 10 earlier this year, but has since dropped to the world No. 12. While his backhand is consistently consistent, it is his forehand that gets him the majority of his easy points.
I can see Almagro making it all the way to the semis, with Murray's elbow unlikely to hold on clay in a best-of-five match and Melzer with a tough draw ahead of him. Almagro would more than likely run into compatriot and friend Nadal in the semis.
1. Richard Gasquet
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Although I do not have Gasquet going as far as Almagro in my predictions, I see him as having a better chance at winning the whole thing. He had a dream week in Rome, upsetting Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych (coming from a set down both times) in back-to-back matches.
Although his week ended with a loss to Nadal, his confidence is soaring entering his homeland Slam. Gasquet has the best chance out of any of the French players to go far (injuries will continue to plague Monfils and Tsonga), so the home crowd will be fully behind.
Although it will not be a walk in the park, Gasquet has a pretty good chance at making it to the round of 16. He might walk into a small obstacle known as Mr. Unbeatable (or Novak Djokovic) in that round, but if Gasquet has an "on" day the fans will be in for quite a surprising treat.
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