Roland Garros 2022 Preview, Tips & Odds

After exciting Masters tournaments in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome, it’s time for the world’s biggest stage when it comes to clay-court tournaments. Roland Garros 2022 starts on Sunday, May 22, which will bring us many exciting clashes in the next 15 days. The draw was held on Thursday, and we will present its analysis, as well as betting tips and predictions for the second Grand Slam of the season.

For the third time in the last 17 years, the draw decided that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal would meet before the semifinals. The Serb withdrew in 2006 after two sets, while in 2016 he triumphed 3-0. That was one of only three defeats of the Spanish superstar in Paris.

It's no secret, Daniil and clay aren't best friends

After his 2021 campaign, the world No.2 is learning to love the terre battue of Paris 👇#RolandGarros

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 20, 2022

In the same half of the draw as Novak and Rafa are two other serious players on this surface – Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev. The happiest in the draw was Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is in the second half and many analysts already see him in the Roland Garros final. But let’s go step by step…

First Part of The Draw: Who will Novak and Rafa encounter?

Yoshihito Nishioka will be Djokovic’s first rival. Novak should have no major problems with the Japanese, who is a modest tennis player, while in the second round he could meet Alex Molcan. It could be a difficult match for the Serbian player emotionally because the Slovak is now coached by Marian Vajda, who is linked to almost all the successes of the Serbian ace.

If he overcomes that obstacle, in the third round Novak should meet Jenson Brooksby, who should also be easy prey. The main candidates for rivals in the round of 16 are Diego Schwartzman and Grigor Dimitrov, both of whom are prone to huge oscillations this season. If Djokovic gradually raises the quality of his game during the tournament, that duel will be the main test before the quarterfinals, the most anticipated clash in the entire event.

Mental toughness of the highest order 🧠#RolandGarros | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/T1gQmjMFz0

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 20, 2022

The first two tasks at this year’s Roland Garros should be easy for Rafael Nadal. The first opponent is Jordan Thompson, who, to put it mildly, plays extremely badly on clay. Already in the next round, he will encounter Stan Wawrinka, who was not the most physically fit at the Masters in Rome.

The main problem for the Spaniard could be a foot injury, which he has been struggling with for a long time, and that is the reason why he was not at the optimal level in the capital of Italy. But Roland Garros is a tournament where he feels best, so we believe he will cope well with the pain.

The rival in the third round is Botic van de Zandschulp from the Netherlands, who has been playing well continuously in the last few months. Nadal’s biggest challenge could be Felix Auger-Aliassime in the round of 16, who played well against Djokovic in Rome. There’s also Reilly Opelka, but the Spaniard usually has no major problems with tennis players of this type.

“Today there are players in better shape than me, for sure, but in the next few days, we never know. It was the same in Australia. It will be difficult, but it can happen again.”

Rafael Nadal pic.twitter.com/xAo8z8ud1i

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) May 20, 2022

If everything goes according to plan, we will watch the spectacle in the quarterfinals, and we give preference to Novak Djokovic in that potential clash.

Second Part of The Draw: Carlitos ahead of all

Carlos Alcaraz delighted the entire tennis public this spring, but he is facing the biggest challenge in his career yet. Carlitos has never been under such a spotlight at a Grand Slam, and the question is whether he will be able to carry the burden. Sebastian Korda should be the first serious rival to the young Spaniard in the third round, and an interesting fact is that this American was the last to defeat Alcaraz on clay this season.

Alexander Zverev is the third seed in the tournament, and he has played very well in the last two Masters. In Madrid, he was defeated by Alcaraz in the final, while Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated him in the semifinals in Rome. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is the main candidate for the opponent in the 1/8 finals, who showed the most of all the players from that part of the draw, and he defeated Novak Djokovic at the start of the Masters in Monte Carlo.

Another day at the office!💥@DjokerNole | @alcarazcarlos03 | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/JBRZTduDfh

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 20, 2022

The German has disappointed at Grand Slams many times in the past, so no one can claim that he will not be eliminated before the quarterfinals and the meeting with Alcaraz. Based on his current form, we should watch the Spanish-German clash.

Our favorite from this part of the draw is Carlos Alcaraz.

Third Part of The Draw: Tsitsipas is the luckiest

Stefanos Tsitsipas is definitely the luckiest one after the draw. Djokovic, Nadal, and Alcaraz are not on his way to the finals, and the Greek is in great shape. He played in the semifinals in Madrid and in the finals in Rome, so he is coming to the capital of France with great confidence.

However, the finalist from 2021 has the toughest opponent already in the first round. Lorenzo Musetti, a talented Italian, can harm Stefanos, but he is not ready for this tournament, so it is questionable whether the injury will allow him to give his maximum. Alex De Minaur and Dennis Shapovalov are potential mines, but they are more dangerous in other courts.

Djokovic, Nadal and Alcaraz in the same part of the draw

Tsitsipas: pic.twitter.com/9rF3JU9rNZ

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) May 19, 2022

Tsitsipas will probably play against Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals. The Norwegian played in the semifinals in Rome and he has significantly improved his form lately, but he has not excelled in Grand Slams in his career so far. This is an opportunity to take a step forward and show everyone that he is a much more experienced player now.

The underdog who is in this part of the draw and who could do some damage to many is David Goffin. The Belgian is not a seed, but he has already won one clay-court tournament this season and was brilliant against Nadal in the round of 16 of the Masters in Madrid, where he missed several match points.

If nothing unexpected happens, Stefanos Tsitsipas should be the semifinalist from this part of the draw.

Last Part of The Draw: The most uncertain part of the draw

Daniil Medvedev is the second seed in this tournament and the best-ranked player in this part of the draw. But the Russian returned to the field only last week after he underwent hernia surgery. He played in Geneva and was defeated already in his first match by veteran Richard Gasquet.

Medvedev will probably beat Facundo Bagnis in the first round, as well as Laslo Djere in the second round, but his opponent in the third phase will be Miomir Kecmanovic. The Serb is playing phenomenally this season and he will surely enter this clash with a lot of confidence.

It’s no secret, Daniil and clay aren’t best friends

After his 2021 campaign, the world No.2 is learning to love the terre battue of Paris 👇#RolandGarros

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 20, 2022

Early elimination of the Russian could push his compatriot Andrey Rublev. He is in good form, he won the trophy in Belgrade, and he was eliminated in the quarterfinals of Madrid by Tsitispas. This tennis player has progressed in many segments of his game, so the main question is whether he has become mentally stronger because he will need it for high placement in Paris.

Jannik Sinner is another talented player from Italy, who should meet Rublev in the round of 16. He reached the third round in Madrid, and the quarterfinals in the capital of his homeland, so he has some kind of continuity of good form before the start of Roland Garros. After the draw, his appetites have certainly increased, because he has a great opportunity to reach his first semifinal at a Grand Slam.

The last quarter is the most uncertain part of the draw, and our favorite is Andrey Rublev.

The draw is such that the excitement will grow as the tournament progresses, and the fiercest clashes await us in the second week of the tournament, in which everyone is expecting a new classic between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.