Tennis Picks Today: 5 Best Bets & Predictions Ft. Novak Djokovic vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Emma Raducanu vs Solana Sierra | May 24, 2026

The French Open has finally arrived with a thrilling set of first-round action, starting with Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who will face Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. At the same time, in the women’s singles bout, Emma Raducanu will go up against Argentina’s Solana Sierra. The local favorite, Luka Pavlovic, is also scheduled to face Brazil’s Joao Fonseca.

Elsewhere, an All-American clash at the Court Suzanne Lenglen is set between Taylor Fritz and Nishesh Basavareddy, while Czech Sara Bejlek will battle America’s Sloane Stephens in her Sunday opener.

Here are our top picks alongside a brief analysis of who could emerge victorious in the first round of Roland-Garros.

Top Tennis Picks and Best Bets

Novak Djokovic vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (Djokovic -900)

Roland Garros will see a first-time clash between Novak Djokovic and Giovanni Perricard. Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam winner, is looking forward to adding another to his collection; however, he has played only one clay-court match in 2026. Perricard, too, has won only 3 of his 10 matches recently and, in front of his home crowd, will be looking forward to shaking off this recent slump.

Perricard comes in with his aggressive game plan that includes a devastating hard serve, but is ineffective without a baseline game to match on the clay. Djokovic is expected to take the French Open to a rally ride and use his overall experience and tactical discipline to outlast Perricade in straight sets.

Emma Raducanu vs Solana Sierra (Sierra -160)

In the women’s side, Emma Raducanu will square off against Solana Sierra for the first time after both entered the tournament via direct entry. While Raducanu holds a negative 0-1 record on clay this season, Sierra comes in with a 7-4 win record that hands her the experience advantage on the red surface. For Raducanu, this will be her second biggest match since enduring a viral illness that kept her out of action for almost two and a half months.

Raducanu is known for her backhand, alongside a polished counter-punching strategy, while Sierra relies on her heavy topspin and elite sliding defense work on clay. If the Argentinian can extend the rallies and wear down Raducanu, she can take a 3-set win.

Joao Fonseca vs. Luka Pavlovic (Fonseca -2000)

The first round is set to witness yet another first-time clash, this time between Joao Fonseca and Luka Pavlovic. While Fonseca holds a tied 6-6 record on clay, Pavlovic comes in with a 9-7 win record on the red surface.

Fonseca is known for his lightning-bolt speed on the court and relies on first-strike wins, while having no problem sliding on clay for hours. Meanwhile, Pavlovic is known to use the clay to get into extended rally battles and win points. The match is expected to be a tight contest, and if Fonseca can keep up his lightning energy throughout, he can take a 4-set win.

Taylor Fritz vs. Nishesh Basavareddy (Fritz -350)

Taylor Fritz and Nishesh Basavareddy will battle each other for the first time while holding unique records on clay. While Basavareddy won the Savannah Challenger on the red clay back in April, Fritz arrives at the French Open after having endured a two-month absence, following a knee injury.

Fritz is expected to use his height to blast heavy serves from the get-go and is renowned for his forehand and a well-sorted tactical baseline game. Basavareddy, on the other hand, has exceptional court-coverage skills and can use his defensive mechanisms to counter Fritz’s heavy shots. If Fritz manages to wear out Basavareddy during the early rounds by forcing the Californian to chase after the ball, he can win in 3 sets.

Sara Bejlek vs. Sloane Stephens (Stephens +140)

Sara Bejlek will battle Sloane Stephens for the first time on Sunday on Court 6. Bejlek currently holds a negative 1-4 record on clay in 2026 and is looking forward to making a comeback after a grueling loss to Emma Navarro, 6-1, 6-4, in Strasbourg. Stephens has already absorbed the Roland Garros court this year with qualifying-round wins against Carol Young Suh Lee, Lisa Pigato, and Leyre Romero Gormaz.

Bejlek is a southpaw and relies greatly on her first serve, while Stephens relies on her clay-sliding maneuvers to counter attacks. While both hold an overall positive clay record, Stephens comes in with great endurance for the red surface and uses her side-by-side movements to get into extended rallies and make points. If she manages to do that, she can take a straight-set win.

All bets and wagers sourced from BetMGM

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