The opening round of the French Open continues on Monday. Sunday saw plenty of great tennis, along with a disappointing loss by a clearly-hindered Angeqlique Kerber. Will we see more upsets on Day 2? Who’s at risk? We’re here to predict plenty of matches for you, including Serena Williams’ opener against Vitalia Diatchenko. (We also have two other sets of predictions. One features Caroline Wozniacki vs Veronika Kudermetova, while the other headlines Sorana Cirstea vs Petra Kvitova.) Predicting these matches today are myself (Yesh Ginsburg), Tracey Essex, and Jim Smith.
French Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Johanna Konta vs Antonia Lottner
Tracey:
Antonia Lottner reached the main draw through qualifiers. While she looked good in those lead up matches, the German is in a different league up against Johanna Konta. The Brit is enjoying a break out year on clay. I expect we’ll see Konta make a deep run, at least to the quarterfinals. Her opening round should be pretty straightforward against the young qualifier.
Prediction: Konta in 2
Jim:
Konta has never won a match at the French Open, but she’s looked assured on the terre battue so far this season, with her run to the Italian Open final particularly impressive. Lottner, meanwhile, is making her debut in the main draw in Paris, but will be match tough after a run through the qualifying. As a result, don’t expect Konta to have it all her own way, but she should have enough to win through.
Prediction: Konta in 3
Yesh:
Lottner could trouble some players with the right draw, but not here. Konta is just in way too strong clay form to struggle.
Prediction: Konta in 2
Yulia Putintseva vs Rebecca Peterson
Tracey:
Rebecca Peterson has yet to find the success she enjoys at the ITF level. The Swede certainly has a powerful forehand, which allows her to take control and play her aggressive best. While there will be some exciting points, Yulia Putintseva is coming off her Nuremberg Cup win. The in-form Russian is confident and should break down Peterson’s barriers.
Prediction: Putintseva in 3
Jim:
Putintseva has played the best tennis of her career on the clay courts at Roland Garros, where she has twice made the quarterfinals. She also arrives in good form after winning the Nuremberg Cup. Indeed, the Kazakh looks to be one of the most dangerous floaters in the draw. She certainly seems likely to have too much for Peterson, who has won just a handful of matches on the clay this season.
Prediction: Putintseva in 2
Yesh:
Peterson has a bit of talent, but Putintseva is just way too good right now. No seed wants to meet Putintseva, let alone anyone else.
Prediction: Putintseva in 2
Danielle Collins vs Tatjana Maria
Tracey:
Dangerous match for Danielle Collins. The American is a feisty competitor who can power her way through the toughest matches. But, Tatjana Maria is so tricky. The slices, spins and dropshots can easily frustrate the most skilled opponents. Collins leads the head to head 1-0, and I expect she’ll expand that lead. But, it won’t be an easy day at the office.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Jim:
Danielle Collins made a great start to the season at Melbourne Park, but her form has tailed off since and she hasn’t looked particularly comfortable on the clay. Maria also plays her best tennis away from the red stuff, but the German has the court craft to cause problems on any surface. Nonetheless, Collins’ power should give her the edge.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Yesh:
Collins isn’t great on clay, but she remembers what she can do at Majors after the Australian Open run. She should raise her game for this match, even against a solid player like Tatjana Maria.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Serena Williams vs Vitalia Diatchenko
Tracey:
Perhaps Serena Williams’ biggest challenge in this match will be the errant knee. If the American superstar has sufficiently healed, this will be a quick, straight sets win. Yet, Serena’s frequent injury withdraws is cause for concern. One wrong-footed point or ill-fated slide could spell the end for the former World #1. Clearly, Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko has talent, regularly bringing in ITF wins. But, it’s not the level which would trouble the younger Williams sister.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Jim:
Williams is not the force she once was. Recently she’s struggled to stay fit and withdrew after one match at the Italian Open. She’s also unquestionably lost some of her aura of invincibility. But the American is still one of the greatest players of all time, with the power to take the racquet out of anyone’s hands. So whilst she may only have an outside chance for the title, she should be able to account for Diatchenko fairly comfortably.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Yesh:
Diatchenko is not someone to underestimate. She has talent and is certainly itching to make a statement. Serena Williams, meanwhile, has the most talent of just about any woman in history. She hasn’t been healthy at all this year, though, and that raises major questions for her abilities in Paris right now. Expect Williams to start out slow, but she should turn things around and close out the match without trouble.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Main Photo from Getty
