For the second week in a row, a combined ATP Masters 1000/WTA 1000 event will be staged. Seven of the ATP top 10, and nine of the WTA top 10, are present in the singles draws. At the last stop for top players before Roland Garros, who will gain momentum ahead of the second Major of the year?
Throughout the tournament, this preview will analyze the day’s two most prominent matches, while highlighting the other notable matches on the schedule. Monday’s play begins at 11:00am local time.
Coco Gauff (15) vs. Angelique Kerber – Fourth on Grand Stand Arena
This is a rematch from last year’s Wimbledon, where Kerber prevailed 6-4, 6-4. But clay remains a troubling proposition for the three-time Slam champ, who has won Majors on every surface except this. Angie has fallen in the first round of the French Open in five of the last six years, and is 0-3 on clay this season. In Rome, she is only 10-9 lifetime. Meanwhile, Gauff reached the quarterfinals last year in Paris, and the semis at this event. And in between those two events last May, she won a title on this surface. But in 2022, Coco is a meager 12-9, and just 2-2 on clay. Her upward trajectory up the rankings has stalled in recent months, and Gauff has a lot of points to defend over the next four weeks. However, her recent results on clay are far superior to Kerber’s, making the 18-year-old American the favorite to advance.
Fabio Fognini vs. Dominic Thiem (PR) – Not Before 7:00pm on Center Court
Thiem is still searching for his first win since returning from his long injury layoff due to wrist issues, as he’s lost his last eight matches at all levels, dating back to one year ago in Rome. He is 3-1 against Fognini, though this is the only venue where the Italian has ever defeated the Austrian. Fognini is just 11-8 in 2022, though eight of those wins have come on clay. This surface is where Fabio achieved his only Major quarterfinal, as well as his only Masters 1000 title. However, he’s not fully relished playing on home soil, as he’s 12-14 in his career at this event. But with Thiem yet to rediscover his form, and struggling to regain power on his groundstrokes, Fognini should be favored to prevail.
Other Notable Matches on Monday:
Reilly Opelka (14) vs. Stan Wawrinka (PR) – Three years ago at Wimbledon, Opelka upset Wawrinka 8-6 in the fifth. Stan is currently ranked 246th in the world, as he’s only played one tour-level match within the past 14 months due to foot surgery. Reilly reached the semifinals here a year ago.
Denis Shapovalov (13) vs. Lorenzo Sonego – Shapovalov was a Rome semifinalist in 2020, while Sonego was in 2021, when the Italian thrilled the crowd during upsets of both Dominic Thiem and Andrey Rublev. This is their first career meeting.
Simona Halep vs. Alize Cornet – At January’s Australian Open, Cornet upset Halep 6-4 in the third on the way to her first Major quarterfinal. However, she’s just 3-9 since, though she’s owned Simona throughout their careers, with a record of 4-1.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (14) vs. Leylah Fernandez – It’s last year’s French Open runner-up against the US Open runner-up. Last October in Indian Wells, Fernandez defeated Pavlyuchenkova in three. This is only Anastasia’s second match since January due to a knee injury.
Monday’s full Order of Play is here.
