The first round of the French Open concludes on Day 3 as 20 more men’s matches take the grounds of Roland Garros. Among them, crowd-favorite Alexander Bublik squares off against veteran German Jan-Lennard Struff. Tope Oke, Ilemona Onekutu, and Cizu Harbor offer their insights. But who will advance?
French Open Men’s Day 3 Predictions
Cameron Norrie vs Adolfo Daniel Vallejo
Tope
Cameron Norrie showed early clay promise before being dulled by a three-match skid and lingering concerns over a rib issue that could blunt his trademark endurance from the baseline. If he’s not at full throttle physically, this becomes a dangerous assignment against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, the rising Paraguayan who has quietly been stacking results this season. Vallejo is in confident mood and he’ll sense vulnerability if Norrie’s movement or serve rhythm dips.
Prediction: Vallejo in 5
Ilemona
Cameron Norrie is a reliable competitor who moves well and builds points patiently on clay. Vallejo brings baseline steadiness but may lack the same endurance over best-of-five. Norrie’s experience and fitness edge him in this French Open grind.
Prediction: Norrie in 4
Cizu
Norrie has not had a good clay-court season, and even his lefty advantage might not help much against a player who certainly loves the clay and possesses a solid backhand that should cope with cross-court rallies. Vallejo also has some momentum from his last few matches. Still expect a proper fight from the Brit regardless.
Prediction: Vallejo in 5
Martin Landaluce vs Juan Carlos Prado Angelo
Tope
Martin Landaluce continues with his growing reputation after a breakthrough clay swing that has propelled him inside the top 70 and making his Slam debut in Paris. He takes on Juan Carlos Prado Angelo, who fought through qualifying and arrives with confidence after a recent Challenger final in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. On paper, Landaluce’s higher level and recent Masters 1000 experience make him the clear favourite, but Prado Angelo’s clay-court rhythm and match sharpness in qualifying suggest this won’t be straightforward. Expect a scrappy battle early, before Landaluce’s heavier baseline game and superior exposure at the top-level start to tilt the match in his favor
Prediction: Landulace in 3
Ilemona
Martin Landaluce has shown strong clay-court promise with good movement and rising confidence. Prado will compete hard but faces someone playing with more momentum right now. Landaluce’s recent results should help him stay composed in the key points at the French Open.
Prediction: Landaluce in 3
Cizu
Prado did well to qualify for the main draw, but Landulace has shown good form in the past couple of weeks against more established opposition. In a match involving two inexperienced players, that exposure should prove vital.
Prediction: Landulace in 4
Ethan Quinn vs Francisco Comesana
Tope
Ethan Quinn arrives with mixed momentum but a clearer upward curve, and the memory of his breakout run here last season, where he navigated qualifying and reached the third round on his Grand Slam debut. Francisco Comesaña, meanwhile, has endured a difficult stretch, drifting outside the top 100 and stacking losses in a stop-start 2026 campaign where sustained inconsistency has blunted his threat for much of the year. If Quinn asserts his rhythm early and keeps the rallies on his terms, this looks like a match where his cleaner hitting and confidence in these conditions could tip the balance in a tight but very winnable opening-round French Open contest.
Prediction: Quinn in 5
Ilemona
Francisco Comesana has excellent clay pedigree with strong topspin and rally control. Ethan Quinn can strike the ball well but is still gaining experience at this level on dirt. Comesana’s comfort and consistency on the surface should prevail.
Prediction: Comesana in 5
Cizu
Quinn will probably hope the clay season ends soon enough. He’s barely made a mark anywhere that really matters. Comesana has also not been spectacular, but generally feels more comfortable on this surface. For some reason, though, I’ll still lean toward the American
Prediction: Quinn in 5
Alexander Bublik vs Jan-Lennard Struff
Tope
Alexander Bublik arrives with the higher ceiling and the clearer recent spark, having flirted with a Geneva final and shown flashes of his Roland-Garros pedigree, but his clay form outside that spike has been patchy. Jan-Lennard Struff, meanwhile, brings a strange kind of danger despite a tough season, still holding a 4-3 head-to-head edge and a perfect 2-0 record over Bublik on clay, including that straight-sets Roland-Garros win two years ago. The German has also proven he can elevate in best-of-five environments, even if 2026 has yet to offer him much momentum. All things considered, Bublik’s shot-making variety and higher peak level should tilt this in his favor.
Prediction: Bublik in 5
Ilemona
Alexander Bublik mixes big serving with unpredictable shots that can create chaos on any surface. Jan-Lennard Struff hits with real weight and has solid clay experience. Bublik’s recent form and ability to pull off the big moments should give him the upper hand.
Prediction: Bublik in 4
Cizu
When Bublik plays, any result is possible, even against a player like Struff, who has struggled badly for a few months now. Having said that, I’m taking a flyer that Bublik comes correct and takes care of business emphatically.
Prediction: Bublik in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – Imagn Images
