French Open: Day 4 – Zverev, Thiem with late stakes, French preferred

Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem are coming to their second appearances at the French Open 2018, albeit on courts they would not have expected.

By Jens Huiber from Paris

Thiem-Zverev-Watch: From the French organisers’ point of view, it can be argued that Lucas Pouille’s game against Cameron Norrie attracts more spectators than Alexander Zverev’s against Dusan Lajovic. But why is the ATP world ranking list actually taken into account when setting up? Nadal on one, please, followed by the nine best Frenchmen.

Zverev won’t mind the creative approach (third match after 11:00 on court 1), of course, he will play Lajovic away, not easy, after all the Serb tortured Dominic Thiem in Lyon last week. But Zverev is number three in the world. There it goes also um´s principle.

And by the way: What is Thiem actually doing on the 18 (fourth match after 11:00)? Nice, new court, but the Austrian’s match against Stefanos Tsitsipas just there to start, does not correspond to any world ranking logic. So the main thing is that Benoit Paire becomes happy on Chatrier with Kei Nishikori.

Match of the day: Marco Trungelliti (ARG) against Marco Cecchinato (ITA) (11:00 h, Court 9): The Italian plays a very good spring, but the hearts must belong to the Argentinian. Nine-hour car rides to slip into the tableau as Lucky Loser, the Argentinean is welcome to advance one more lap.

Upset Alert of the Day (So far: three correct ones – Ostapenko, Mladenovic, Sock; no mistakes): Martin Klizan – Gael Monfils (FRA/32). All right. Monfils got the last seat possible, didn’t hit anything in spring and also tortured himself in round one. But Klizan, if he is reasonably healthy, is always unpleasant.

The German-speaking glasses: Oliver Marach enters the tournament in second place with Mate Pavic. They meet Arends/Shamasdin in their fifth match on court eight. Maximilian Marterer and Philipp Petzschner have 12 Bracciali/Seppi in their second match on court. Jan-Lennard Struff and Ben McLachlan want to underpin their London ambitions against Arevalo/Cerretani (11:00 a.m., 15th place). Also in action: Florian Mayer with Dusan Lajovic (court 15, fifth match), Mischa Zverev with Paolo Lorenzi (second match after 11:00, rank 16), plus Andrea Petkovic with sportswoman Hsieh (second match on 13) and Tajana Maria with Heather Watson (11:00, court 4).

Staff member of the previous day: Julia Görges. Nobody knew why Görges lost the second set 5:7 on Court 1 against Dominika Cibulkova early on Tuesday evening. Least the Slovak herself. Cibulkova’s coach took the opportunity to address a few warm words to his protégé. Not in accordance with the rules. And not to Julia Görges’ taste. Not only did she put the coach in his place, her playful generosity was also over in set three: 6:0. 6:0.