FRENCH OPEN - WEDNESDAY 1ST JUNE

FRENCH OPEN - MONDAY 30TH MAY

The last two meetings between these two have been decided in final set tiebreaks and everything points to another close one today. Robredo came into the tournament with an injury-hampered preparation, but he really looks to be playing into some solid form here and his record at Roland Garros is excellent. Safin kept his head down against Ferrero but I wonder if he might let those mental vulnerabilities bubble to the surface again should this one go the distance.

Two countryman both unchartered waters at this level. There doesn't look too much in it on paper. Both know each others game very well so it would be no surprise to see it go the distance. With that in mind, I have to favour Acasuso. For mine, he is the more consistent and mentally stable player of the two. He is riding high on confidence at present and is likely to be much more attacking.

FRENCH OPEN - SATURDAY 28TH MAY

Both players come into this in some very handy form. Acasuso will take a lot of confidence from his win over Roddick on Thursday into this match against an opponent who he defeated twice on clay last year. Volandri pulled out of the doubles competition as a precaution because of tendonitis in a finger, but he looks to have his hands full today whether he is fully fit or not.

Andreev has a far superior record on the clay but such is his style of play is such that if he starts missing and gets a little impatient, Kiefer is certainly the type of player that can capitalise. The Russian is 0-3 in five set encounters and far less experienced at this level so must be rated a genuine risk today.

FRENCH OPEN - FRIDAY 27TH MAY

Luis Horna played very well to upset Henman on Wednesday but I feel that he'll need to play as well or better against an in-from Hanescu. The warm weather should suit Hanescu with his bigger and more reliable serve. Horna works very hard so fitness may have a part to play in the latter stages of the match. Horna comes in with a poor Grand Slam record and is just 2-5 when going the distance.

David Nalbandian to bt Mario Ancic
Ancic has been playing well, but he rises a class today. Nalbandian was very convincing against Berdych in the last round and looks to be running into some dangerous form here. He moves around the court far superior to his opponent today. Ancic's best chance of stealing set looks to be in a tiebreaker.

Sebastian Grosjean to bt Radek Stepanek

Stepanek has been playing very well in the lead-up to Roland Garros but I'm not sure how well he matches up here. Throw in a partisan French crowd and it looks like the Czech might be up against it today. Grosjean's experience at this level is far superior and it must be noted that while there is a first time for everything, Stepanek has not been past the third round in his previous eleven Grand Slam appearances.

FRENCH OPEN - THURSDAY 26TH MAY

Haas got the better of Spadea 6-2 6-4 in last week's World Team Cup in Dόsseldorf, but I'm tipping this one to be a lot closer. Hass upset Gaudio in the final last week but I'm not sure if the Argentine had his mind on that one and it's actually been a while since the German has done anything of note on the dirt outside the U.S. and his homeland. Spadea will play a very solid and relatively error free game hopefully frustrating Haas into producing the errors.

Hernych was made to work hard by Santoro on Tuesday while Ferrero was too solid for a slightly improved Beck. I believe the Czech will provide the former champ with a very stern test today. He wont be afraid to go for his shots so if Ferrero falls back into his shell he could be in some strife.

On his day, Andreev can look a million dollars and just about beat anyone, but he losses the plot mentally speaking far too often for my liking. He wiped Ferrero off the court here last year so he is obviously very capable on these courts but he has a tough match-up today. Nieminen can play a very patient game and is very stable mentally so I feel he'll eventually wear the Russian down. The Finn has been running into some nice form in recent times and will take some beating.

Very little between these two on paper, but I had the Frenchman a clear favourite. He looks to have more clay court ability and he'll have the centre court crowd firmly in his corner. Kiefer has never been past the second round here in eight previous attempts and has not won back-to-back matches at a clay tourney since Hamburg 2001. His form in the lead-up tournaments has been indifferent to say the least.

FRENCH OPEN - WEDNESDAY 25TH MAY

It might sound foolish, but I think Federer is a big risk in this match. I've been impressed with Almagro this year and I'm sure he's one to enjoy being on centre stage. He lost a tight five-setter to Kuerten here last year and has improved immeasurably since. He is also a former semi-finalist in the junior competition here. Federer is most vulnerable early in the tournament and a player such as Almagro going for his shots looks to have the best chance. Amazing price.

Chela's form this clay season has been very average. He notched up a few wins in Hamburg, but that tournament is not generally a good form-line for Roland Garros. I don't think playing the waiting game will be enough today. The in-form Hanescu is on his favourite surface and with an edge in the surface department and a very solid backcourt game, I like his chances here. If it goes the distance, lets not forget the Argentinean's 0-8 career five-set record.

Malisse has the ability to beat almost anyone on his day. He comes into this with a limited preparation thanks to his suspension for "aggravated behavior" in Miami, but he should be motivated for a strong showing. Based on their meeting last month in Monte Carlo (6-0 6-3 to Nadal) you can't give the Belgian much of a chance, but he boasts a very solid record at Roland Garros. Word is that Nadal's troublesome cut/blister hasn't totally healed up and in his first match on centre court in Paris, he may not have things all his own way.

Gasquet got the monkey off the back with a come from behind win over Bracciali in the first round but he'll have to give this his full attention. Yes, Gasquet has improved immeasurably in the past 12 months and his clay form is right up there, but let's not forget that he is just 1-6 at this level. He can still get a little down on himself when things don't go his way. Wessels can play on the dirt, and if his serve can get him to a breaker or two, it's worth noting that the Frenchman has a very poor tiebreak record. Don't be surprised to see the over-priced Dutchman emulate his forgotten countryman Martin Verkerk and cause a few problems.

Ferrer wore down Vanek in the first round but it wasn't a convincing performance by any means. He has posted some good results in the lead-up but I'm not sure that necessarily translates to easy wins here and I find it hard to believe how he can be this price against just about anyone. Patience has won two clay challenger tourneys recently and is no stranger to the best-of-five conditions.

FRENCH OPEN - TUESDAY 24TH MAY

Two journeymen meet in a match that I feel will be rather close. Costa, a former winner here just three years ago, is a shadow of his former self on the clay. He's slowed a pace or two and is lacking confidence in a big way. His recent results don't quite indicate it, but Spadea is very competitive on clay and will rate himself a chance today. 

Garcia-Lopez has notched up a few decent wins in the lead-up but I'm not sure that he'll be all that suited to his opponent today. Rochus is very experienced and should know how to exploit the weaknesses in the Spaniards game. Bringing him to the net is certainly one of those. Rochus has had some fairly average form of late but he always gives his all and has a lot more Grand Slam experience on his side.

Would be very surprised to see this one finished off quickly, but I have to side with Lisnard. The Frenchman works very hard for his wins, but he gives his absolute best every point and might just wear down the big-serving Belgian. Norman has struggled at this level on the dirt in the past so I find him easy to oppose today.

Hernych showed in Miami last year that he had the patience to beat Santoro and despite this one being playing in front of a partisan French crowd I think he can do it again today. Santoro has a wealth of experience here (16-15 match record over 15 years), but Hernych is coming off a recent challenger win and I don't think he is the type to fall under the 'magicians' spell.

You cant knock Agassi's 51-15 record at Roland Garros, but the American is most vulnerable these days on clay where he has to run the most. Nieminen loves clay and fresh from qualifying, will be match-fit and confident. He is no stranger posting the big upset so I can't see him tightening up should he be in a winning position.

The young Frenchman will have dreamt about making his debut at Roland Garros. He gets his chance in front of a partisan French crowd on the number two court today. He doesn't have too much on clay at tour-level, but a recent challenger win augurs well. I haven't been particularly impressed with Canas in recent times. He seems too intent on getting the ball back and waiting for the opponents error and less about about going for the winner or counter-attacking when he has a chance.

FRENCH OPEN - MONDAY 23RD MAY

Rochus has been in great form but this wont be easy. Behrend has been in some very good form of his own recently and will be well acclimatised to the conditions after coming thorough qualifying without dropping a set. The German is 0-4 in the main draw here and has lost his last nine main draw Grand Slam matches, but this looks his best chance.

Vik has come through qualifying and won five matches at a clay challenger last start, but this wont be an easy Grand Slam debut. Kim has been on the dirt in Europe for three weeks as preparation and despite losing all three matches, he is playing some solid tennis this year. The edge in experience at this level might be enough.

Horna has a very poor slam record (2-10), but this is the only major where he's been past the first round (two second round appearances). He has struggled to get things back together after an injury layoff earlier in the year. He has shown some promise in a few matches, but I can easily see him having to fight for this one. Haehnel went 0-4 at ATP level this clay campaign but three wins at a challenger last week and a return to the scene where he beat Agassi last year will surely give him some confidence.

Just taking a set off Nadal has been something to write about and Mello did just that back in February at his home tournament in Brazil, but I'm not convinced that he's been playing all that well recently. His only win on the clay lead-up was posted over Schuettler. Wessels on the other hand, has been impressive at times. He played the challenger in Croatia last week so comes in with some match-fitness and despite making his Roland Garros debut, should go close.

H-T Lee is a hard one to catch, but he is not the worst player going around on clay by a long stretch. He hasn't done much in the lead-up but he has plenty of experience and perhaps a more all-round game when compared to his opponent today. The clay-loving journeyman Calatrava has a poor 2-5 record at Roland Garros. He is in some very average form this year (3-10 on clay) - losses to J Johansson and Burgsmuller and only a win over Carraz in the European lead-up doesn't read well.

Should be a keen battle between the two French wildcards, but I have to side with the experience of Patience. Simon, in his first Grand Slam match, has impressed at times over the last year but is lacking the consistency and staying power required to finish his matches off. Patience dropped back to challenger level recently, where he won two events, so he should have some confidence back.

Victor Hanescu ROM vs. Michal Tabara CZE

Hanescu plays his best tennis on the dirt and with some very solid form coming into the tournament will be very hard to top today. Tabara can be very competitive on his day but he lacks a weapon to cause too much trouble here.

Mardy Fish USA vs. Xavier Malisse BEL

Fish has been practicing hard and is motivated to do well after a recent injury setback, but one would imagine his thoughts would be more focused on the upcoming grass and hardcourt season. Malisse has had some mixed results in the lead-up but has a solid record here and looks well suited again.

Jiri Novak CZE (26) vs. Bjorn Phau GER

There have been plenty of question marks over Novak's motivation and fitness levels recently, but he shouldn't have too many issues in getting up for a Grand Slam, a level where he has a very solid record over the years.

Felix Mantilla ESP vs. Tomas Zib CZE

Very hard to know what Zib is going to throw up - he is one of the most inconsistent players on tour - but one has to side with the clay-savvy Mantilla. It's generally taken a form player to get past the Spaniard in the lead-up and he boasts a far superior Grand Slam record.