Matteo Berrettini looks to continue his rebirth as he takes on Juan Manuel Cerundolo instead of Jannik Sinner. Frances Tiafoe will also be looking for a QF berth against Matteo Arnaldi.
(19) Frances Tiafoe vs. Matteo Arnaldi
Tiafoe has earned every point of his path to the round of 16. He came back from two sets down in R3 against Jaime Faria, and before that he beat Hubert Hurkacz in a five-setter that ran four hours and 43 minutes. Back-to-back five-setters, both requiring him to dig out of holes. His clay game has genuinely improved over the past two years, and his 7-3 record on the surface in 2026 reflects it, but he’s pretty far from playing on fresh legs.
Arnaldi, meanwhile, has been rolling. He has won 12 of his last 13 clay matches with a nine-match winning streak currently running, and he beat Tiafoe on clay at Madrid in 2025 in straight sets, with Tiafoe converting just one of seven break points that day. The ranking gap (19th seed vs. world No. 104) flatters Tiafoe considerably. Arnaldi’s ranking is residue from a rough second half of 2025, not a reflection of the player showing up this week. Still, Tiafoe has shown impressive resolve this week. Giving the nod to the American.
Cheryl pick: Tiafoe in 5
Matteo Berrettini vs. Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Matteo Berrettini hasn’t played at Roland Garros since 2021. Hand surgery, a litany of injuries, years of doubt — he said recently he sometimes thought he couldn’t come back at all. But he IS back, and he’s in the round of 16 after surviving two match points in a five-hour, 13-minute war against Francisco Comesana in R3. He’s beginning to believe again for this first time in a long while. He has struggled on hard courts in his career, but he’s a solid “natural surface” player, getting his best results on clay and especially grass. Oh. And he’s not playing Jannik Sinner. That’ll help, too.
Cerundolo, 24, has been sensational this week. His comeback from two sets and 5-1 down against Sinner in R2 is the kind of match that gets written about for years. He enters this round as arguably the biggest story left in the draw, with a 20-10 clay record in 2026. But they have split their two career meetings, and Berrettini’s serve is the biggest weapon on the court Monday. Cerundolo may have left his most extraordinary tennis against Sinner. For his part, Berrettini looks primed to handle this one without letting it get complicated.
Cheryl pick: Berrettini in 3