Monday is the second day of action at the French Open. We are predicting every single one of the day’s 24 matches for you, across six separate articles. Each article predicts four matches. The other five articles feature Petra Kvitova vs Oceane Dodin, Amanda Anisimova vs Tamara Korpatsch, Garbine Muguruza vs Tamara Zidansek, Iga Swiatek vs Marketa Vondrousova, and Madison Keys vs Shuai Zhang, respectively. Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Damian Kust, and Ewan West.
French Open Day 2 Predictions
Arantxa Rus vs Clara Burel
Jim:
The young gun Burel has posted some solid results since the season resumed, with the highlight a run to the quarterfinals at an ITF-event in Saint Malo. But although Rus is not one of the most expansive or indeed naturally gifted players on the WTA Tour, she is a very solid professional and typically plays well on the clay. She should have too much for Burel.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Damian:
The Frenchwoman has played some decent matches on clay lately but she’s got a lot less experience on the big stage than Rus. And it’s not like the Dutchwoman wasn’t in good form lately.
Prediction: Rus in 2
Ewan:
Rus earned three wins across qualifying and the first round in Rome, and has a solid record on clay. French wild card Burel won a match in Strasbourg, and the world #415 could push the #67.
Prediction: Rus in 3
Tsvetana Pironkova vs Andrea Petkovic
Jim:
Pironkova was one of the stars of the US Open, putting together a swashbuckling run to the quarterfinals that included upset wins over Garbine Muguruza and Donna Vekic. That earned her a wildcard for Roland Garros, where she reached the quarterfinals in 2016. It is hard to see her repeating that run, but she may well get past Petkovic, who is not the force she once was.
Prediction: Pironkova in 3
Damian:
Can Pironkova repeat some of the magic from the US Open? While it’s unlikely she’ll go that deep again, she should be the favorite to win against Petkovic, who hasn’t played anything else than exhibitions this season yet.
Prediction: Pironkova in 2
Ewan:
Petkovic won the pair’s only previous meeting in 2014, while both have gone deep at Roland Garros before. Pironkova’s form and confidence from her US Open run should see her past Petkovic–in the German’s first tour match of the year.
Prediction: Pironkova in 3
Barbara Haas vs Hsieh Su-wei
Jim:
Hsieh is invariably an exceptionally watchable player, but the Taiwanese plays her best tennis on surfaces considerably quicker than the Parisian clay. Up against Haas, who impressed in coming through the qualifying where she dropped just one set, it is hard to see Hsieh making much of an impact.
Prediction: Haas in 2
Damian:
Su-Wei Hsieh is always tricky to play but her unusual game is not that effective on clay. This might be a disappointment for her against a solid opponent who came through the qualifying here.
Prediction: Haas in 3
Ewan:
The head-to-head is 1-1. Hsieh was well beaten by Elise Mertens in Rome in her first outing since February, while Haas came through French Open qualifying. The Austrian’s match experience of the unusual conditions should give her the edge.
Prediction: Haas in 3
Serena Williams vs Kristie Ahn
Jim:
Williams beat Ahn fairly comfortably in the first round at the US Open. Of course, the great American is rather more comfortable on the asphalt than the clay, but the same could be said of her compatriot Ahn. Expect another straightforward Williams win.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Damian:
They met at the same stage of the US Open and there’s no real reason to suspect that the result will be different here. Serena might be one of the few women to have the power to hit through these courts.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Ewan:
Williams prevailed in two close sets when the pair met in the US Open first round earlier this month. Ahn has been short of success on clay since 2017, and the two-time Roland Garros champion should be too strong for her again.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
