We begin the second round on Wednesday, Day 4 of the French Open. There will be 16 women’s matches, and we’re predicting every one of them. We’ll be looking at four matches in this article, but we will also have three more sets of articles. One set features Bernarda Pera vs Amanda Anisimova, the next headlines Coco Gauff vs Martina Trevisan, and the final features Serena Williams vs Tsvetana Pironkova. Predicting these matches today are Andrew Watson, Damian Kust, and Jim Smith.
French Open Day 4 Predictions
Katerina Siniakova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Andrew:
The Russian has a superb record against the Czech, but they haven’t played in four years. Pavlyuchenkova is always difficult to predict as she blows hot and cold. Siniakova isn’t the most consistent either so one prediction is there may be a lot of swings in momentum. Pavlyuchenkova has the more talent in my opinion so I’m inclined to side with her in this match-up.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 3
Damian:
The Russian’s big game should do well here. Siniakova is a very competent clay-court player but she hasn’t been playing her best tennis lately.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 3
Jim:
After a fairly woeful summer in North America, Siniakova has found some form back on her preferred clay. She may well have to be at her very best up against Pavlyuchenkova, who impressed in beating 28th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first round. But if Siniakova is at her best, she should have enough to reach the second round.
Prediction: Siniakova in 3
Astra Sharma vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Andrew:
The Aussie was another player to embarrass me in the round one predictions as she produced a battling performance to see off Anna Blinkova. She may need to find another level to beat this Russian though. Alexandrova has played two Aussies in her last three matches and won them both, I think she will make it three here.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
Damian:
Sharma’s first round win came as a bit of a surprise. The Australian rarely plays her best tennis in consecutive matches though and she should struggle to hit through the talented Russian.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Jim:
Lucky loser Sharma took full advantage of her good fortune, shocking Anna Blinkova in the first round in the main draw. But it is hard to see her repeating the feat against Alexandrova. The Russian has been playing fine tennis of late and her powerful groundstrokes give her weaponry that Sharma cannot match.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Kaia Kanepi vs Elise Mertens
Andrew:
The big hitting of the Estonian will serve her well in these conditions. However, she may need all the help she can get because Mertens has been playing very well for a few weeks now. Both players have won four of their last five matches but the Belgian has beaten the higher level of player and is super-consistent. That will help her to win this match.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Damian:
Kaia Kanepi can always pull a win out of nowhere in Grand Slams it seems. But Mertens has been playing great ball since the restart and doesn’t typically lose these type of matches.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Jim:
This will be a good test of Mertens’ credentials in Paris. Whilst it is certainly a match that she should win, Kanepi is an invariably dangerous foe to come up against, with the Estonian’s power and touch having taken her to some famous upsets in recent years. Will she pull off another one here? Probably not, but Mertens will need to be on her guard.
Prediction: Mertens in 3
Simona Halep vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Andrew:
Halep certainly showed why she is favourite for the title this year in round one. In a potentially tricky match she accelerated through the gears to extend her unbeaten run post-break. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Begu has a total inferiority complex in playing her fellow Romanian. Halep is a hero in Romania and Begu hasn’t faced up well to that in the past. Expect much of the same here.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Damian:
Halep’s first round showed that she could struggle with generating pace in these conditions. Begu is a different opponent though, one who should suit her a bit more.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Jim:
Halep made an assured start to her French Open campaign, beating Sara Sorribes Tormo for the loss of only four games. Begu, meanwhile, scored a very impressive win over Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann. But she lost to Halep a month ago on the clay in Prague and it is hard to foresee a different outcome this time around.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
