This has been a surprise-laden French Open, going all the way back to the day that Roger Federer recused himself from it because of a lingering bad back. In keeping with that theme, here are five viable predictions that, should they come to pass in Week 2, would make this a French Open for the ages.
1. Serena Williams will win the title and tie Steffi Graf
Williams claims she has eliminated all drama after that wildly theatrical run she earned last year. Trouble is, drama may not have sworn off her -- as we saw in her tiebreaker with Kristina Mladenovic on Saturday.
Drama is triggered by things that can't be controlled, which includes emotions. They can be triggered by many things, including an opponent's form on a given day. One of the opponents lurking on Williams' horizon is the No. 9 seed, her sister Venus. Both are in the fourth round and could meet in the semis.
Venus, closing in rapidly on 36, is playing some great tennis. She has never won the French Open. After moving into the fourth round, she told the Roland Garros crowd: "I've had some issues in the past, and I'm trying to make this my best year on clay."
For this to qualify as Venus' best year, she would have to win it. Now you see the problem. Imagine Venus standing in the way of Serena equaling Graf's Grand Slam title record. Imagine Serena standing in the way of Venus finally winning the French. Imagine the emotions, which are the incubators of drama.
Serena should prepare for drama, agony and title No. 22.
2. Novak Djokovic will quietly and efficiently grind his way to the title
Djokovic was probably as weirded-out as anyone when Rafael Nadal pulled out of the tournament with a bad wrist before his third-round match. He will certainly feel some pressure now that all eyes will be refocused on him as a prohibitive favorite.
Djokovic has been through the wringer the French Open. It culminated with that mind-blowing final last year, when he lost to Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. Psychologically, Djokovic is ideally prepared for anything that might come his way. On top of it, he was so gracious in the wake of that astonishing defeat last year that the concept of karma demands that he win.
3. The French will celebrate a Grand Slam champion
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was playing well; too bad about his leg. Richard Gasquet had no trouble handling ATP wild child Nick Kyrgios, but if Gasquet gets into the second week, he's unlikely to last long.
Alize Cornet, Caroline Garcia, even famous-for-15 minutes Virginie Razzano -- they're all already gone. Forget women's doubles; there isn't a seeded French team in the draw. It's all on the men's doubles team of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. They're not a bad basket to put you eggs into, Francophiles. Mahut is ranked No. 2 in doubles, Hebert No. 6. The team already has three Masters doubles titles this year, including the 2015 US Open.
4. Andy Murray will not win the French Open
Murray's clay game has gone up a level, no doubt it. That win against Djokovic in the Rome final was potentially career-altering, at least in terms of Murray's clay career. But as soon as he laced them up in Paris, Murray demonstrated that if a foundational change had occurred, it wasn't going to be evident just yet.
In back-to-back matches, Murray floundered on the clay. He nearly drowned in the dirt. He played sloppy, angry and distracted tennis. It was sourpuss Andy Murray at-his-worst tennis for long stretches, and he barely squeaked by. These days you can't beat legitimate clay-court contenders with mood-driven tennis.
Simple as that.
5. Expect a bottom-half surprise in the WTA draw
The bottom half of the WTA draw was weak from the get-go. It's only natural to expect No. 2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska to assert her authority in the coming days or to see Simona Halep reprise her 2014 dash to the final. After all, both are experienced veterans.
Forget it. Both of them have the shrinking violet gene when it comes to pressure and expectations. Look for No. 4 Garbine Muguruza to make a long-anticipated breakthrough.