Monday is the Day 2 of action at the French Open. We are predicting every single one of Monday’s 24 matches for you, across six separate articles. Each article predicts four matches. The other five articles feature Serena Williams vs Kristie Ahn, Amanda Anisimova vs Tamara Korpatsch, Garbine Muguruza vs Tamara Zidansek, Iga Swiatek vs Marketa Vondrousova, and Petra Kvitova vs Oceane Dodin, respectively. Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Sean Judge, and myself (Yesh Ginsburg).
French Open Day 2 Predictions
Viktoria Kuzmova vs Kristyna Pliskova
Jim:
Kuzmova has struggled badly since the restart, with her only win coming in the first round of qualifying at the Western and Southern Open. Pliskova, meanwhile, hasn’t played since the US Open, where she lost in the first round to Donna Vekic. But she illustrated her clay-court credentials in Prague, where she reached the semifinals, and her big serve gives her a weapon that Kuzmova cannot match.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Sean:
Kristyna Pliskova will be happy with her return to tennis, reaching the semifinals in Prague and played two competitive sets against Elise Mertens. She also was unlucky to lose her first round match to Vekic at the US Open but overall will have a lot of confidence. Kuzmova has really struggled to find her form since the restart winning just one match against an out of sorts Minnen. Having lost her last six sets of tennis she won’t have high expectations for her first round match.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Yesh:
In abstract, I might think that Kuzmova is the better player on clay. Recent results tell me that current form is otherwise, though. Pliskova should win easily.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Monica Puig vs Sara Errani
Jim:
Errani remains a wily clay-court operator, as she demonstrated in coming through the qualifying without dropping a set. Puig does have a good clay-court game on paper and should have the beating of the Italian, but she is in no kind of form and has not looked fully fit since returning to action in “Cincinnati.” Expect Errani to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Errani in 3
Sean:
Puig is still yet to win her first match of 2020 mainly due to being out of action because of injury. Since her return she narrowly lost both of her matches to Volynets and Gasparyan. Errani successfully made her way through the qualifying tournament at the French Open without dropping a set. Her favourite surface has been clay her whole career and she will be hoping to get a win at this year’s French Open. This could be a close match but the extra matches Errani has played will help her in the match.
Prediction: Errani in 2
Yesh:
Errani is well past her prime, though she was once near the top of the game. Puig, meanwhile, shouldn’t be past her prime yet, but for some reason her form is lacking way too often. Still, she has the much better upside and it’s hard to pick against the Puerto Rican in this one.
Prediction: Puig in 3
Stefanie Voegele vs Patricia Maria Tig
Jim:
Tig arrives at the French Open in fine form after winning the Istanbul Cup, whilst Voegele has been struggling for the most part. Indeed, the Swiss has won just one of the five matches she has played since the season resumed. Tig must be accounted the heavy favorite and rightly so.
Prediction: Tig in 2
Sean:
Tig reached her career high ranking of #58 after being victorious in Istanbul two weeks ago. She played brilliant tennis all week and is always a challenge for anyone of the clay. Her opponent, Voegele has won just one match since the restart of the tour and struggled to find her best tennis. This should be an easy win for Tig if she is able to carry the momentum of her Istanbul glory.
Prediction: Tig in 2
Yesh:
Tig is currently in the best form of her career, while Voegele is… not, to put it nicely. Tig should win this match without much trouble.
Prediction: Tig in 2
Madison Keys vs Shuai Zhang
Jim:
Zhang had looked like she couldn’t buy a win before arriving in Strasbourg. But after beating Storm Sanders in the qualifying, the Chinese went on to reach the quarterfinals. Keys’ fitness, meanwhile, is uncertain, with the American having not played since retiring in the third round at the US Open. But if she is healthy, she should be able to hit through Zhang.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Sean:
Madison Keys has had some positive and negative performances since the resumption of the tour. She was playing great tennis at the US Open before having to retire in her third round match against Cornet. However, she hasn’t played a clay court match since last year’s French Open. Zhang picked up a solid quarterfinal in Strasbourg last week having come through qualifying. She picked up a good win against Tomljanovic before losing to eventual finalist Rybakina. It will be a close match but I expect Keys to start slow but will the match.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Yesh:
Keys is the better player and has been in strong form recently. The only question mark is her healthy. Assuming the American is fit and ready to go, she’ll win this easily.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Main photo from Getty.
