Ricky Dimon

• French Open Expert Picks: Day 2

  2010-05-24 05:14:09
  

  Expert picks are going strong for the French Open. Monday's picks include the first-round blockbuster between Andy Murray and Richard Gasquet. Join the fun in the comments section to become a guest picker later in the tournament!
  
  Andy Murray vs. Richard Gasquet
  
  Ricky: Well, another bad draw for Gasquet upon his return to tennis (he faced Rafael Nadal in the first round of last year's U.S. Open). Of course, this is even worse for Murray, who probably expected something a lot nicer as the No. 4 seed. Gasquet is playing well and has the advantage in France and on clay, but he has to be tired after a long, successful week in Nice. Murray 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
  
  Cheryl: This is the absolute worst possible opponent for Murray to draw in Paris. First of all, Gasquet is actually playing well and just won a title on Sunday in Nice. Second, the French crowd isn't exactly known for being polite to the opposition. Lastly, Murray hasn't been exactly on fire this year. I'm calling the upset. Gasquet 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.
  
  

  Viktor Troicki vs. Tommy Robredo
  
  Ricky: Robredo has been sidelined with a knee injury over the past month, but he should cruise if he is anywhere close to 100 percent. Troicki simply does not have the clay-court game that Robredo will put on display. Robredo 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
  
  Cheryl: This could be an interesting match, actually. Robredo would usually be the odds-on favorite for the win, but the Spaniard has been unusually poor on the dirt this year. Troicki 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
  
  Kei Nishikori vs. Santiago Giraldo
  
  Ricky: It's good to see Nishikori finally back from injury and he has won two consecutive Challenger tournaments. Still, it remains to be seen if he can go five sets and it will be almost impossible for him to win quickly against a clay-courter like Giraldo. Giraldo 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
  
  Cheryl: Where has Kei Nishikori been? Playing the Challenger circuit, that's where. He's ranked outside the top 200, and though he was fortunate not to draw Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, in this case Giraldo isn't much better. Giraldo 6-3, 6-0, 6-1.
  
  Thomaz Bellucci vs. Michael Llodra
  
  Ricky: In what is a matchup between a baseline clay-courter and a serve-and-volley hard-court specialist, Bellucci has the edge in terms of surface while Llodra has the edge in terms of a home-court advantage. In this case, the clay will be too much for the Frenchman to overcome. Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
  
  Cheryl: This might be the match to watch tomorrow. Llodra played well in Bordeaux and he'll be playing for the home crowd. Bellucci is better on clay for sure, but it might be a struggle. Bellucci 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-4.

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