Monday at the French Open sees another slate of great matches, and at LWOT we are here to predict them for you. We start with Sorana Cirstea vs Petra Kvitova. Sunday saw its share of ups-and-downs, from Kerber’s loss to Muguruza’s comeback win. What will we see on Monday? We’re predicting four top matches for you. (We also have two other sets of predictions. One features Caroline Wozniacki vs Veronika Kudermetova, while the other headlines Serena Williams vs Vitalia Diatchenko.) Predicting these matches today are myself (Yesh Ginsburg), Tracey Essex, and Jim Smith.
Editor’s Note: Petra Kvitova withdrew from the French Open shortly before her match was scheduled to begin. Cirstea will instead face Lucky Loser Kaja Juvan.
French Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Kiki Bertens vs Pauline Parmentier
Tracey:
While the French crowd will show the love to its countrywoman, Parmentier’s run will be short lived. Kiki Bertens has been on a tear and basically owning the clay courts. A quick and easy match to get Bertens on her way to a deep run.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Jim:
After her victory at the Madrid Open, Bertens must surely be counted amongst the favorites in Paris. Her accurate, penetrative hitting make her hard to contend with when she is at her best, and though the crowd will surely do their best to lift Parmentier, it is hard to see the veteran Frenchwoman being able to hold off Bertens for long.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Yesh:
Bertens is one of the best women in the world right now. She’s up to No. 4 in the WTA rankings, and she will go deep her. Parmentier can challenge a lot of women, but not Bertens.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Marie Bouzkova vs Bianca Andreescu
Tracey:
Czech Marie Bouzkova made short work of her three qualifying matches. She obviously came to Paris to play. Bianca Andreescu enters the French Open having not played a single clay court match. In fact, the Canadian’s injury withdrawal at the Miami Open was her last match. If the Canadian can quickly shake off the rust, she has every tool in her kit to secure the win. I’ll give the first set to Bouzkova as Andreescu works to find her footing. The next two go to the teenage superstar.
Prediction: Andreescu in 3
Jim:
In this battle of the teenagers, it’s hard to pick a winner. Andreescu made waves in Indian Wells, but hasn’t played since injury forced her to retire in the fourth round in Miami. Bouzkova, meanwhile, impressed in the qualifying at Roland Garros, winning all three matches in straight sets. That run may well have given her the match sharpness she needs to upset the Canadian.
Bouzkova in 3
Yesh:
Andreescu is a Canadian teenager who made her huge breakthrough in Indian Wells earlier this year. She has been quiet since then, mostly because she hasn’t played. Andreescu has a decent draw here, and expect her to bring her best for a Slam.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Elise Mertens vs Tamara Zidansek
Tracey:
Elise Mertens has lost four out of five opening matches on clay. That doesn’t bode well against the Nurnberg finalist, Tamara Zidansek. Zidansek will be confident and may find success against a struggling Elise Mertens. I think we’re in for an upset.
Prediction: Zidansek in 3
Jim:
It’s been an undeniably disappointing season for Mertens, who has lost her last two matches. Zidansek, in contrast, is in excellent form after reaching the final in Nurnberg, her first at tour-level, where it took a determined display from Yulia Putintseva to stop her. Expect her to carry on that good form at Roland Garros by pulling off a first-round upset.
Prediction: Zidansek in 3
Yesh:
By rankings, Zidansek winning would be an upset. The Slovenian has been solid on clay all year, and she had the best week of her career just this past week. Mertens has been slumping recently, so this isn’t too hard of an upset to call.
Prediction: Zidansek in 2
Sorana Cirstea vs Petra Kvitova
Tracey:
It’s not that Romania’s Sorana Cristea isn’t a capable player. It’s that she has the unfortunate draw to open her French Open bid against arguably the hottest player on the WTA Tour. It will be a definitive win for the #6 seed.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Jim:
Kvitova has had a quiet few months since reaching the Australian Open final earlier this season, and she was forced to retire from her third-round clash with Maria Sakkari in Rome. But, assuming that injury was not too serious, the Czech should be able to do some damage in Paris, even if the title is probably beyond her. Cirstea, though in good form after a semifinal showing in Nuremberg, doesn’t seem likely to halt the sixth seed’s charge.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Yesh:
Cirstea is a solid player who is in good form. Kvitova, meanwhile, is a great player who was in good form until the injury bug hit. Assuming she’s healthy, Kvitova should win in two tight sets.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Main Photo from Getty
