The French Open wraps up its second round on Day 5. Thursday will see the last 16 Round 2 matches, and we’re here to predict all of them for you. The 16 matches are split between four articles. We predict four matches each article. In addition to this article, the others feature Ashleigh Barty vs Magda Linette, Karolina Pliskova vs Sloane Stephens, and Sofia Kenin vs Hailey Baptiste. Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Damian Kust, and David Gertler.
French Open Day 5 Predictions
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Barbora Krejcikova
Jim:
This should be an entertaining clash. Ekaterina Alexandrova has had the edge in their rivalry, winning three of their four matches, but when they met last week on the clay in Strasbourg it was Barbora Krejcikova who came out on top. With the Czech the player in form, expect her to have the edge once again, even if she has to go the distance to get the win.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
Damian:
Krejcikova’s Strasbourg run can make her fatigued at some point in the tournament, but probably not just yet. That run also contained a rather comfortable win over Alexandrova. The in-form player should take it, although it might be more tightly contested this time around.
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3
David:
Ekaterina Alexandrova took down Venus Williams without too many troubles, holding the American to 19% second serves won. Barbora Krejcikova, who won Strabourg last week for her first WTA singles title, did well to come back from a set-and-a-break down against Kristyna Pliskova in the first round. Alexandrova is the fresher player and, with the depth and pace she puts on her shots, should rush Krejcikova in baseline exchanges.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
Tereza Martincova vs Jessica Pegula
Jim:
After her superb start to the season, it was to be expected that Jessica Pegula’s form would cool off. But the American has still been playing some good tennis, not least in battling past China’s Zhu Lin in the first round. She may have to work similarly hard against Tereza Martincova, who started her own French Open campaign with a solid win over Ivana Jorovic, but Pegula is the more complete player and should be the one to reach the third round.
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Damian:
Pegula has enjoyed a real breakthrough this season, although her level appears to have gone down in the past two weeks or so. She should still beat Martincova, who entered the French Open with five matches lost on the spin.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
David:
Tereza Martincova did well to take advantage of a favorable draw to beat Ivana Jorovic in straight sets to open up her tournament. Jessica Pegula had to survive a very tough three-setter against Lin Zhu. Having gotten through that tough test, expect for Pegula to play with freedom and to control the baseline in this match.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
Varvara Gracheva vs Camila Giorgi
Jim:
Varvara Gracheva was back to her best in the first round, dismissing the Spanish qualifier Lara Arruabarrena for the loss of only five games. Camila Giorgi, meanwhile, edged out the 22nd seed Petra Martic, who had been in fine form coming into Roland Garros. If the Italian can find that level of tennis again expect her to have just about too much for Gracheva.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
Damian:
You never know what to expect from such a hyper-aggressive player as Giorgi. I’m going to go out on a limb and trust that she will be able to repeat her high-quality performance from the match against Martic in the opening round.
Prediction: Giorgi in 2
David:
Varvara Gracheva won in straight sets against a tricky first round opponent in Lara Arruabarrena. Camila Giorgi survived a thrilling three-set encounter against Petra Martic. Giorgi plays with huge power, but was locked-in against Martic, and I don’t think that there’s anything that Gracheva can do to hurt the Italian.
Prediction: Giorgi in 2
Coco Gauff vs Qiang Wang
Jim:
One imagines that Wang Qiang will be less than thrilled about the prospect of facing Cori Gauff for the second time in as many tournaments. The pair clashed in the final in Parma two weeks ago, and Wang mustered just four games in a humbling defeat. This may prove to be more competitive, but there seems to be little reason to expect a radically different result.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Damian:
Just over a week ago, Gauff completely dominated this matchup in the Parma final. The youngster is in fantastic form at the moment, and there’s little to indicate this match should look that much different from their last one.
David:
Coco Gauff and Qiang Wang just played in the Parma final and Gauff comfortably won in straight sets. Gauff is battle-tested for this match after a tough opener against Aleksandra Krunic. Wang isn’t as consistent as Gauff, doesn’t have the consistent power that Gauff has, and doesn’t do as well on clay as Gauff does, so the American should come through in this one.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
