The third round starts on Day 6 of the French Open. 16 women will compete in eight matches to reach the Round of 16. Who will advance to Sunday? We offer our thoughts on all the matches. Four are in this article, and four are in a second article. Predicting the matches today are Fraser Learmonth, Damian Kust, and Jim Smith.
French Open Day 6 Women’s Predictions
Paula Badosa vs Ana Bogdan
Fraser:
Pretty up and down call here if both play at the level they are capable of. Badosa Gibert is emerging as a star on the women’s tour, particularly on clay. Few have been better than her on the surface this year and she looks set to make a real statement at the French Open this year. Bogdan is a capable opponent and can bring it on the clay, but the Spaniard has been to hot recently to pick against her here.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Damian:
Badosa is in absolutely incredible form at the moment. It would be a major shock if she went out here, even if Bogdan defeated her on clay five years ago. While the Romanian hasn’t developed that much, Badosa has made tons of progress, especially of late.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Jim:
Insofar as anyone was, Ana Bogdan was the beneficiary of Naomi Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the French Open, with the Romanian securing her place in the third round as a result. But with Paula Badosa in the form of her life–the Spaniard has made light work of Lauren Davis and Danka Kovinic–it is hard to see Bogdan’s campaign continuing into the fourth round.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Sorana Cirstea
Fraser:
Kasatkina was very convincing in her straight sets win over Belinda Bencic in the last round. The Russian is playing some of her best tennis in years and is making a real go of charging back into the top ten in the women’s game. Cirstea is a capable adversary and shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, Kasatkina’s best is a very high level that few can top and she is playing at that level in Paris.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Damian:
Cirstea was the runner-up in Strasbourg last week and seems to be channeling some of her 2009 quarterfinal run. Kasatkina was just brilliant against Belinda Bencic but it’s just one great performance all of a sudden. Even in the opening round, she struggled mightily to take out Misaki Doi. I’ll go with the player who won’t go below a certain level.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
Jim:
This may not be one of the headline clashes of Day 6 at the French Open, but it should be an entertaining contest. Sorana Cirstea has been in fine form of late, whilst Daria Kasatkina has looked sharp so in Paris, beating Misaki Doi–which was to be expected–and Belinda Bencic–which was not. But Cirstea seems overdue for a deep run in Paris and might just have the edge here.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Aryna Sabalenka
Fraser:
A replay of Madrid lies in store at the French Open. Sabalenka was a buzzsaw in that tournament and simply wouldn’t be denied. She looks similarly determined this week, with her explosive hitting blowing away opponents even on the clay. The speed with which she has improved on the red dirt is truly remarkable. Pavlyuchenkova is a very, very good player and more than capable on clay. However, she doesn’t have the extra level to her game that Sabalenka does. In fact, few on the tour do. That extra level is what gives the Belarusian the edge in this one.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Damian:
It’s hard to argue against Sabalenka being one of the top favorites for the title at the moment. She is yet to have a statement run at a Grand Slam, though, and this brings some uncertainty to whether she’s ready for it mentally. Her draw was extremely tough from the get-go and the fact that she’s making it through these rounds with relative ease tells me she might be. Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Jim:
Aryna Sabalenka beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at a canter when this pair last met in Madrid earlier this season, but the Russian’s movement was clearly hampered in that match. Back to full fitness, she should offer rather more resistance this time around. But the slow conditions in Paris favor the big-hitting Sabalenka. The Belarusian should be able to dictate enough points to secure her place in the fourth round at the French Open.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Serena Williams vs Danielle Collins
Fraser:
Williams enters this match as the favorite and deservedly so. However, she doesn’t seem to be at the level needed for the deeper rounds of a Grand Slam. She has grown into tournaments in the past, but how long she can keep doing that for is anyone’s guess. I think Collins has a real shot here given her level so far in Paris. No one ever picks against Serena Williams and understandably so, but something has to give eventually and I think it does here.
Prediction: Collins in 3
Damian:
With the draw clearing up, even on clay Williams must be feeling that she’s in for a deep run here. Collins won’t go down without a fight, though, as she seems to be really locked in at the moment. These are two extreme hard-hitters who will try to maintain their dominance at all costs. The Greatest of All Time still takes it most of the time.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Jim:
This will be a real test for Serena Williams, who has not looked particularly convincing so far at the French Open, or indeed on the clay generally this season. Danielle Collins, in contrast, has looked sharp, particularly in hammering Anhelina Kalinina 6-0 6-2 in the second round. With Williams in indifferent form, the conditions for the upset might just be perfect.
Prediction: Collins in 3
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