We begin the second round on Day 4 of the French Open. 28 women will compete for the opportunity to advance to the third round. We predict all 14 of the matches for you, split between four articles. In addition to this article, the other articles feature Madison Keys vs Leylah Annie Fernandez, Belinda Bencic vs Daria Kasatkina, and Serena Williams vs Mihaela Buzarnescu. Who do you think will advance? Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Andrew Watson, and Yesh Ginsburg.
French Open Day 4 Predictions
Elena Rybakina vs Nao Hibino
Jim:
It has been a largely disappointing season for Elena Rybakina, but the Kazakh got back to winning ways in convincing style by beating Elsa Jacquemot 6-4 6-1 in the first round. This should be another routine outing for the 21st seed, with Nao Hibino’s clay-court record hardly anything to write home about.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Andrew:
Whilst I think the Kazakh is ultimately better on a hard court she seemed quite confident in the opening round. However, that was against a lowly ranked wild card and Hibino will offer a greater test. I think this match could go the distance but the power of Rybakina should settle the match in her favour.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Yesh:
Rybakina is more talented and a more consistent player. She’s not quite at the incredible level she showed us last year, but she should have more than enough power to blast past Hibino.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Sorana Cirstea vs Martina Trevisan
Jim:
Martina Trevisan was excellent during her surprise run to the French Open quarterfinals last season, but the Italian has done relatively little of note since. Back in Paris, she made a good start to her campaign with a battling three-set win over Alison Van Uytvanck. But up against the in-form Sorana Cirstea, Trevisan looks set to struggle.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Andrew:
Two good clay courters here and we could see some long rallies. Cirstea will be brimming with confidence given her recent run and this will give her the edge.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Yesh:
Trevisan is a solid player. Cirstea, though, is finally showing what fans have known she was capable of for years. The Romanian might not have become the elite some expected when she was a teenager, but she finally looks like a strong player, especially on clay.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Harmony Tan vs Marketa Vondrousova
Jim:
Harmony Tan continued her good recent run of form with an impressive first-round win over Alize Cornet, her first at a Grand Slam. But beating Marketa Vondrousova is an entirely different proposition. The Czech is still short of consistency, but it is hard to see how Tan will be able to hurt the 2019 runner-up regularly enough to reach the third round.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Andrew:
The 2019 finalist has had the draw open up nicely around her following the withdrawal of Naomi Osaka. Hopefully this will give her the impetus to move forward with some more confidence. I’m predicting a nervy win for her here as Tan is no pushover.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3
Yesh:
Don’t sleep on this match. Vondrousova is a prodigious talent who hasn’t found any real rhythm since her runner-up showing here two years ago. Tan, meanwhile, is a solid player who will love the home crowd behind her. The Frenchwoman is playing well, so an upset wouldn’t shock me. Vondrousova is more likely to win, but just barely.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 3
Victoria Azarenka vs Clara Tauson
Jim:
Clara Tauson had been in less than ideal form heading into the French Open, but it is a testament to her mental maturity that she put that behind her to dismiss the qualifier Ekaterine Gorgodze 6-2 6-4. Backing that up Victoria Azarenka seems like a tall order, however, even if the Belarusian is more comfortable on hard courts.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
Andrew:
Azarenka was in one of the matches of the opening round with a momentum-swinging three-setter against Kuznetsova. Tauson found her match a little more straightforward but if Azarenka can continue to play fully fit then this will be a whole different ball game. I’m not entirely convinced by the Dane on clay yet and I think Azarenka’s shots can get her off-balance regularly.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
Yesh:
Tauson’s rapid rise last year had to slow eventually. It definitely has at some point this year, but her raw talent is undeniable. Azarenka hasn’t looked great in a few months, and the Belarusian showed real vulnerability in her last match. I’ll take the Dane.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
