By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Camila Giorgi plays Garbine Muguruza with a trip to the Roland Garros third round on the line.
Photo credit: FFT
On each day of the French Open we will provide you with notes on three matches to watch, plus notes and numbers to keep you well-equipped for the day ahead.
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(2) Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Marcel Granollers (ESP), Second match on Court Suzanne Lenglen
The first clay-court meeting between 2014 French Open doubles finalist Granollers and 2009 singles champion Federer, who is playing for his 63rd career Roland Garros win in his 62nd consecutive Grand Slam appearance.
After a young fan hopped the fence and walked up to Federer on court in a quest for a selfie, the Swiss voiced his displeasure with lax Roland Garros security. Playing on the smaller Court Suzanne Lenglen on Wednesday, Federer will not want to Granollers get too close. The Spaniard took the opening set from Federer at the 2014 U.S. Open and the 17-time Grand Slam champion responded going into ruthless mode. Federer allowed just three games over the final three sets. Federer has more firepower off the serve and forehand, and has used both shots effectively winning seven of the prior eight sets they've played.
(5) Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA), Second match on Court Philippe-Chatrier
The left-handed Brazilian scored his 100th career clay-court win to capture the Geneva title on Saturday and now sets his sights on snapping a 10-match losing streak against Top 10 opponents. Nishikori successfully defended his Barcelona title earlier this month and carries an 11-2 clay-court record into this second-round encounter.
Bellucci's curling crosscourt forehand feeds directly into Nishikori's backhand, which is one of the best two-handers in the game. The player who controls that cross-court pattern—and takes the time strike down the line—will have the advantage here.
(21) Garbine Muguruza (ESP) vs. Camila Giorgi (ITA), Third match on Court 2
Two young talents who have scored big wins on the Grand Slam stage meet for the third time. Muguruza shocked Serena Williams in the 2014 Roland Garros second round, surrendering just two games in handing Williams her worst Grand Slam defeat. The powerful Spaniard has wins over No. 3 Simona Halep and Rome finalist Carla Suarez Navarro this season, but has been plagued by a right shoulder injury that forced her to withdraw from Rome.
The 5-foot-6 Giorgi is as lithe as a figure skater, but don't let her slender stature fool you. Giorgi possesses impeccable timing, can take the ball early and crack heavy shots off both wings. The Italian goes for it and can be streaky as a result, but she's 2-0 lifetime against Muguruza and should be motivated playing to reach the Roland Garros third round for the first time.
By the Numbers
1 Number of five-set matches Roger Federer has lost at Roland Garros—Federer's fourth-round loss to Ernests Gulbis last year was his first five-set loss in Paris.
2 Number of games Vitalia Diatchenko lost the last time she faced a world No. 1 at Roland Garros. Diatchenko, who upset No. 1 Dinara Safina at the 2009 French Open, plays No. 2 Maria Sharapova in the second round on Wednesday.
5 Number of former French Open women's champions to reach the second round: Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Francesca Schiavone, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.
15 Number of clay-court matches Thomaz Bellucci has won in 2015, which ties Pablo Cuevas for third most (behind Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer) on the ATP.
36 Age of Radek Stepanek, who is bidding to become the oldest man to reach the Roland Garros third round since 38 year-old Jimmy Connors reached the third round in 1991. Stepanek faces Davis Cup doubles partner Tomas Berdych.
17-4 Carla Suarez Navarro's three-set record this season, which leads the WTA for most three-set wins.