French Open Day 3 matches to watch: Ana Ivanovic, Li Na take the court
Ana Ivanovic faces a first-round test against frenchwoman Caroline Garcia. (Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
PARIS — Here are the matches to watch on Day 3 of the French Open. Play begins at 5 a.m. ET and will be aired by ESPN2 before Tennis Channel takes over at 10 a.m. Click here for the order of play, and see the full TV schedule here.
Ana Ivanovic [11] vs. Caroline Garcia (third match, Court Philippe Chatrier): This is easily the match of the day on a fairly weak order of play. Ivanovic is a heavy favorite to make the second week, but Garcia is one of the most dangerous floaters in the draw, playing well above her No. 43 ranking. This is the first meeting between the two, and Garcia will be playing in front of her home crowd on the very court that saw her come within two games of upsetting Maria Sharapova in 2011. Garcia had a 12-match winning streak on clay before losing to Agnieszka Radwanska in three tight sets in the Madrid Open quarterfinals. Assuming the Frenchwoman controls her nerves, this will be a good test for Ivanovic.
Sara Errani [10] vs. Madison Keys (fourth match, Court Suzanne Lenglen): Keys has an opportunity for the upset, as there's some doubt about Errani's fitness. The Italian sustained a leg injury in the Rome final that forced her to retire from the doubles final hours later and get an MRI. If the injury isn't serious, though, she shouldn't have any problem with Keys. Her consistency and clay-court skill should frustrate the 19-year-old American.
NGUYEN: Two top-10 upsets, a marathon match and plenty of rain at Day 2
Grigor Dimitrov [11] vs. Ivo Karlovic (first match, Court 1): No one ever enjoys playing the big-serving Karlovic, who gives his opponents no rhythm and tests a returner's patience. They've split their two matches, but Dimitrov won 7-6 (3), 6-4 just two weeks in the second round of the Italian Open. Karlovic is coming off a good lead-up week, making the final of the Dusseldorf Open, where he lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Li Na [2] vs. Kristina Mladenovic (first match, Court Suzanne Lenglen): The 21-year-old Frenchwoman is a big ball-striker, and when she gets in the zone, she can hit through any court and nearly any player. Li's consistency should win out, but nerves could play a part in her first match at Roland Garros this year.
Caroline Wozniacki vs. Yanina Wickmayer (third match, Court 2): Wozniacki will be playing her first match since her break-up with Rory McIlroy. She's lost just once to Wickmayer in seven matches, but the Dane comes into Paris struggling with injuries. She pulled out of Stuttgart with a wrist injury and Rome with a knee injury.
Serena Williams tweets her support for Caroline Wozniacki
Jack Sock vs Nicolas Almagro [21] (third match, Court 6): Their last meeting was a hot-headed affair in the Houston quarterfinals, which Almagro won 6-2, 6-4 to move his record against Sock to 2-0. Expect the Spaniard to cruise, but it should still be a fun one to watch.
A number of matches were canceled on Monday due to the rain, including Sloane Stephens' first round match against Peng Shuai. Read our preview of that match here.
