The 124th French Open has commenced at Roland Garros in Paris. Many of the top players on both the men’s and the women’s side are playing with not too many exceptions except for Roger Federer in the men’s and defending champion Ashleigh Barty in the women’s. Federer is recovering from a knee injury and Barty is not playing due to COVID concerns.

Tennis Channel and NBC will televise for the next 2 weeks. Tennis Channel’s coverage is throughout the day starting usually around 4 A.M. or 5 A.M. CT in the morning and running to 2 or 3 P.M. CT.. I wouldn’t set your alarm for 4 A.M. NBC will broadcast the Women’s Final at 8 A.M. CT on Saturday, October 10th, and the Men’s Final at 8 A.M. on Sunday, October 11th.

In the Men’s, I’m going to take Novak Djokovic over 31 year old Frenchman Gael Monfils, who’ll have an excellent tournament, in the semis, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, and Dominique Thiem to upset Rafa Nadal in the other semifinals match, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4.

In the Finals, I’ll go with Thiem over Joke, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6). Will be an electric match.

Like Thiem to carry his momentum from winning the 140th U.S, Open over to the French where the 27 year old Austrian has been runner-up 2 years in a row to Nadal

In the Women’s Finals, I’ll take Victoria Azarenka over Petra Kvitova, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3. Like the 31 year old native of Belarus, Azarenka, to bounce back from a tough loss to Naomi Osaka in the U.S. Open finals and redeem herself at the French.