Andy Roddick thinks ‘nightmare’ player could cause surprise and reach the men’s semi-finals at Roland Garros

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Andy Roddick has not ruled out the possibility of a surprise player having a deep run at Roland Garros.

The second Grand Slam of the season is almost upon us where competitors will give their all to etch their name into the history books forever.

The French Open is usually the slam most difficult to dominate due to the slow and high-bouncing nature of the surface, making it the most taxing on the body.

‘King of Clay’ Rafael Nadal has mastered the dirt as his 14 titles in Paris illustrates, while defending champion Novak Djokovic has triumphed on three occasions.

But with question marks surrounding the legendary duo’s form, in addition to the fitness of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the opportunity for a less fancied player to make it through the draw may be there for the taking.

Andy Roddick predicts which outside player can do well at Roland Garros

Roddick thinks a player like Nicolas Jarry can cause some upsets and have a deep run at Roland Garros.

Following his run to the Italian Open final, Roddick believes the 28-year-old has some tools to cause several players problems and make it through a favourable draw.

“Nico Jarry into the conversation. Little riskier, he misses balls, but he pounds the ball! Crushes serves, forehands just crushed,” he mentioned on his ‘Served’ podcast.

“He’s hit or miss but he can be a match up nightmare for some people like Tsitsipas, I think he is five and two against him.

“Give him the right match up and he is going to beat you up a little bit. If he has a hot serving day, lands a couple of big returns, he is someone who could get upset in the first round or be in the semis.”

How has Nicolas Jarry performed this season?

Jarry reached the final of the Argentina Open in February, and defeated Alcaraz along the way. He reached his second final of the season in Rome, where he came up short against Alexander Zverev.

In the process he became the first Chilean Masters 1000 finalist since Fernando Gonzalez at the same tournament in 2007.

He also made the quarter-finals of his native Chile Open and in Miami, where he earned an upset win over Casper Ruud. Results this season have taken Jarry to a career-high ranking of 16, and he is hungry for more success.

“My feeling right now is I want to go to Roland Garros and play better because I know I can play better and do good there,” he said on Sunday. “I’m very motivated. That’s how I am right now.”