Only sixteen players remain in the 2020 French Open as we reach the second week of this prestigious event. On Sunday, the players from the top half of the draw will play their fourth-round matches. One of them will be the top-seeded Simona Halep, who will take on Iga Swiatek in a rematch of their last year’s meeting in the very same round of this event. Who do you think will prevail? Our panel of experts for today consists of Jim Smith and Damian Kust.
French Open Day Eight Predictions
Martina Trevisan vs Kiki Bertens
Jim: Could Kiki Bertens muster a challenge for the title in Paris? She’s certainly good enough on the clay when she is at her best. The Dutchwoman, it must be said, hasn’t yet found top gear at the French Open, but she did look sharp in beating Katerina Siniakova. Martina Trevisan has impressed so far, but Bertens should be a cut above the Italian.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Damian: After three consecutive upsets for Martina Trevisan, it feels like she might even have a fourth one in her. It’s a beautiful story but if Bertens is at 100% physically (and she was against Siniakova, but not in the first two rounds), then I don’t see her standing a chance against the Dutchwoman’s very natural clay-court game.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
Simona Halep vs Iga Swiatek
Jim: Simona Halep made short work of Iga Swiatek in their last meeting in Paris, which came at this stage a year ago, losing just one game as she thrashed the Pole. But it’s hard to see her being quite so comfortable again, even if she has looked to be in imperious form since the restart. But, whilst Swiatek is more than capable of making a match of this, Halep has made a habit of winning, one that looks set to continue here.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Damian: Their match here last year lasted 45 minutes and exposed many of the flaws of the Pole’s game. Looking at her form this week it should be much closer, but then again Halep’s dismissal of Anisimova didn’t make it seem like a hard-hitting power player will have a great chance of upsetting her.
Prediction: Halep in 2
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Elina Svitolina vs Caroline Garcia
Jim: Elina Svitolina, after winning the Strasbourg International, got off to a slightly rocky start in Paris, but she looks to have just about found her feet now. Caroline Garcia, meanwhile, has been playing some inspired tennis. But doubts remain over her ability to sustain such a high-level over the course of a fortnight and any dip will surely be punished by Svitolina.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Damian: Caroline Garcia scored a great win over Elise Mertens but she has a lot of trouble closing out big matches. Svitolina is the sensible pick, but never underestimate Garcia’s ability to play attacking tennis when she’s feeling confident.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
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Nadia Podoroska vs Barbora Krejcikova
Jim: What an opportunity this is for both women. But it is the Argentine qualifier Nadia Podoroska who has faced and overcome the tougher challenges so far, with the 23-year-old having dropped just one set in six matches at the French Open this year. Nerves may keep this match close, but it is Podoroska who is the favourite and rightly so.
Prediction: Podoroska in 3
Damian: The fourth round that no one suspected but I’m here for it. Podoroska won 11 matches in a row and is playing with supreme confidence. Krejcikova feels a tiny bit more like just someone who took advantage of an opening in the draw, but she’s an expert doubles player and if she can use some of that pedigree here, she’ll give Podoroska a fight.
Prediction: Podoroska in 2
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