The most prestigious Mixed Doubles event in tennis starts in Paris on Tuesday, as the medals are the same for all events at the Olympics. Players might care more about Slams in singles or even regular doubles instead of mixed doubles, but an Olympic medal is an Olympic medal. Who will keep their hopes alive on the first day of play? Can Coco Gauff keep her goal of three medals intact? Will we see any other upsets? As always, we here at LWOT predict all the matches for you. We split the first round into two articles, with our other article featuring Mirra Andreeva and Daniil Medvedev vs Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. Predicting these matches are Ateet Shrivastava, Damian Kust, and Yesh Ginsburg. Who do you think will advance? (Note that in Olympic doubles, a third set is a match tiebreak–first team to ten points wins.)

Paris Olympics Mixed Doubles Round 1 Predictions

Carolina Garcia and Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France) vs Ena Shibahara and Kei Nishikori (Japan)

Ateet:
Garcia/Roger-Vasselin are the host pair, and there will be high expectations from them. They have a great individual resume on the doubles court and have played together before. Shibahara/Nishikori are the underdogs in this match and there is a reason for it. Shibhara is a doubles specialist, but her results this season have been disappointing, and Nishikori has hardly played doubles in his career. The French team should win this easily.
Prediction: Garcia and Roger-Vasselin in 2

Damian:
Garcia and Roger-Vasselin have only played with each other a few times, but it seems like everything about their potential partnership on the court fits. Nishikori on the other hand has never done all that well in doubles and while he’s got wonderful feel for the ball, his lack of rhythm might be an issue even in mixed.
Prediction: Garcia and Roger-Vasselin in 2

Yesh:
Shibahara is a great doubles player, and Nishikori adds a bit to a doubles team, but not enough. The French team is better overall and will impress in front of their home crowd.
Prediction: Garcia and Roger-Vasselin in 2

Donna Vekic and Mate Pavic (Croatia) vs Qinwen Zheng and Zhizhen Zhang (China)

Ateet:
The Croatians are the favorites in this match thanks to the pedigree and experience of Mate Pavic. Vekic is not known for her doubles prowess but she can combine well with Pavic and they have a good first-round match. Zheng/Zhang have played together before but they don’t have much experience.
Prediction: Vekic and Pavic in 2

Damian:
This looks very watchable as well. Zheng/Zhang got a few reps in at United Cup and seem to have good chemistry on the court, but it might be a matchup where Pavic carries Vekic to the win. The Croat has been a top doubles player for quite some time now and in my opinion he’s the best of his generation.
Prediction: Vekic and Pavic in 3

Yesh:
Pavic is probably the best doubles player in the world. He’s already won a Gold Medal and will probably win another medal this year. He has a pretty good partner, and they should be able to handle the Chinese team, neither of whom is at their best right now.
Prediction: Vekic and Pavic in 2

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Ellen Perez and Matthew Ebden (Australia) vs Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marcel Granollers (Spain)

Ateet:
The #2 seeds, Perez/Ebden, have extensive experience on doubles courts and are ranked in the top ten individually. They played together at the Wimbledon and the French Open this year and although they didn’t have much success, they gained the experience of playing together. Sorribes Tormo/Granollers are a strong team themselves. Granollers is the current World No.1 in doubles and Sorribes Tormo was a former Top 20 and loves to play on clay. This is the closest match to predict but I will go with the Spaniards.
Prediction: Sorribes Tormo and Granollers in 3

Damian:
Ebden/Perez weren’t amazing when they tried some mixed doubles Slams, but it’s still a couple of Top 10 players on the team. That theoretically could mean medal contenders. It won’t be easy to fend off Granollers though and they might have to hope that the Sorribes Tormo serve will become a big target.
Prediction: Ebden and Perez in 2

Yesh:
The Aussies are two of the best doubles players in the world. That has to count for something. Even with Granollers also being an elite doubles player, they should be able to outwork the Spanish team. After his singles outing, I’d expect Ebden to perform at his best now.
Prediction: Ebden and Perez in 2

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Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz vs Nadia Podoroska and Maximo Gonzalez

Ateet:
Gauff/Fritz are playing together for the first time and it will be interesting to see how it goes. Gauff has a great pedigree in doubles and won the French Open this year in the women’s doubles. Podoroska/Gonzalez have played together before and that gives them a slight advantage but Podoroska has not had much success in doubles. Fritz looks uncomfortable at the net, which may hurt the Americans’ prospects. Still, I believe the #3 seeds have a tiny advantage.
Prediction: Gauff and Fritz in 3

Damian:
The American choices for the mixed seem a bit questionable with some elite doubles specialists they have on the roster, but Gauff/Fritz will likely do okay as well. Podoroska especially could be a bit outmatched here with Gonzalez at least likely able to cover up for his baseline game with the doubles experience. She doesn’t have that.
Prediction: Gauff and Fritz in 2

Yesh:
Coco Gauff is just so good at everything on the court, especially on clay. Put her with a big-serving, big-forehand doubles partner and it will be very hard for anyone to beat her.
Prediction: Gauff and Fritz in 2

Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports