2021 French Open: what to watch on Monday

How to watch: 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST on Tennis Channel and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Peacock; streaming on the Tennis Channel + and Peacock applications.

For the first time in the open era, three Italian men have qualified for the round of 16 in the same Grand Slam event. Two will face Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, while one – Matteo Berrettini – got lucky when his opponent, 20-time Grand Slam tournament champion Roger Federer, withdrew from the tournament on Sunday.

Here are some games to watch.

Due to the number of matches passing through the courts, individual match times are estimates and may fluctuate depending on when the previous game is over. All times are Eastern standard.

Philippe-Chatrier Court | 3:00 p.m.

Iga Swiatek vs. Marta Kostyuk

Defending champion Iga Swiatek has not lost a set at Roland Garros since her loss in Paris in 2019. In the third round, Anett Kontaveit pushed her to a tie-break, the closest of all these players. these last years. For her troubles, Swiatek rewarded Kontaveit with a 6-0 sweep in the second set, as if to teach future challengers a lesson by demonstrating what happens if you push her.

On the way to her first round of 16 appearance, 81st-ranked Marta Kostyuk defeated 12th seed Garbine Muguruza in the first round. 18-year-old Kostyuk has already been on the WTA Tour for a few years. This match between Kostyuk and Swiatek will offer a first glimpse of the dynamic game that these two phenomena are capable of generating.

Philippe-Chatrier Court | 11:00

Rafael Nadal vs. Jannik Sinner

Rafael Nadal has won 32 consecutive matches at Roland Garros, dating back to his 2017 campaign. He continues to appear on Paris clay as an almost mythical figure, a player who, through sheer determination, can pass off his opponents for simple distractions. He lost just 27 games in the first three rounds of play and looks set to easily push himself away in another Roland Garros final.

18th seed Jannik Sinner faced Nadal in the second round of the Italian Open in May. Although the 19-year-old Sinner lost in straight sets, he showed some promise. With so many talented players arriving on the ATP Tour in the past decade, it’s hard to measure their abilities against the dominant abilities of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer. The sinner is no exception, but there is a possible point of comparison. In 2020, Sinner lost to Nadal in the Roland Garros quarter-final. Although this is a round earlier, this year’s game can be measured against their previous meeting. And if Sinner can show his improvement, he could be the first player to take a set away from Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros since Dominic Thiem in the 2019 final.

Philippe-Chatrier Court | 8h00

Novak Djokovic vs. Lorenzo Musetti

Lorenzo Musetti, who won the 2019 Junior Australian Open, had an exceptional year after qualifying for the Italian Open in 2020 and then defeating Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori in a short period of time. Now in his first major main draw, he has reached week two of play after upsetting 13th seed David Goffin in straight sets in the first round and outlasting Marco Cecchinato in five sets on Saturday.

Number one seed Novak Djokovic lost just 23 games as he swept through the opening rounds. Djokovic, who won Roland Garros in 2016, is a solid and physical player. (If it weren’t for Rafael Nadal, he would likely have more titles at Roland Garros.) His flexibility allows him to glide over red clay for shots that would normally be out of range, extending points and forcing his opponents to make mistakes. . As he takes on the young Italian, it’s not entirely clear what threats Djokovic will be affected by. At best, the Italian will have to take the experience in stride, and try to learn from it.

Philippe-Chatrier Court | 6h00

Ons Jabeur vs. Coco Gauff

Ons Jabeur, the 25th seed, with her run for the Australian Open in 2020, became the first Arab woman to reach the quarterfinals of a major event. And the Tunisian continued to impress, with a pair of top 10 wins and a host of entertaining games to her name. Jabeur has a well-balanced game, often adjusting his attacking style to match his opponents’ weaknesses and take advantage of slight positioning missteps.

Coco Gauff, the 24th seed, received a forfeit halfway through her third round match against Jennifer Brady. Brady struggled quietly with injury throughout the tournament and couldn’t continue after the first set. Today, 17-year-old Gauff is playing for a place in her first Grand Slam quarter-final. She had two tough games in her first two rounds which went to the tiebreakers. After a string of strong performances over the past two months, Gauff should feel she can beat Jabeur as long as she remains consistent throughout the game.