We wrap up the third round of the French Open on Day 7. Saturday’s matches will see 16 women compete for eight spots in the fourth round. Who will move on to compete on Monday? We share our thoughts on all of the matches. Four of the eight matches are in this article, and four are in a separate article. Predicting today’s matches are Andrew Watson, Damian Kust, and Jim Smith.
French Open Day 7 Women’s Predictions
Sloane Stephens vs Karolina Muchova
Andrew:
Is Stephens going to become a factor here again? It’ll be tough against Muchova as the Czech has a game that when it is on is probably one of the best in the game. Stephens’ top class experience could count in her favour but ultimately I think there is more chance of seeing a good performance from the Czech than the American here.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Damian:
Stephens was the runner-up here three years ago and the performance against Pliskova had real glimpses of that form. Her level is known to fluctuate like crazy but if she keeps that up, I think it’s quite a bit beyond what Muchova can do on the clay, at least for now.
Prediction: Stephens in 3
Jim:
Sloane Stephens’ recent revival has been impressive, but she nonetheless must be accounted the underdog coming into this match. Karolina Muchova has enjoyed her best results in quicker conditions, but the Czech has the skillset to succeed on this surface, thanks to a forehand that is a reliable weapon and the confidence to finish points at the net. This may well go the distance, but expect Muchova to be the player to reach the second week.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Magda Linette vs Ons Jabeur
Andrew:
Linette got a fortunate route through here with Barty’s retirement and I think she could run into big problems here. The Tunisian is playing with joy and skill and it is great to watch. I expect Jabeur to progress here too.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Damian:
Linette’s win over Barty via retirement had her show a ton of self-belief and never let her foot off the gas. She’ll need to be that clinical version of herself to beat Jabeur, but with a lot of confidence gained in the past two weeks and the influence of a new coach clearly working out for the best, perhaps she might have a solid shot here.
Prediction: Linette in 3
Jim:
With all due respect to Magda Linette, one suspects that the Pole would not have found herself in the third round had Ashleigh Barty not been hamstrung by a hip injury that forced her to retire in the previous round. But if Linette was the first beneficiary of the Australian’s bad luck, expect Ons Jabeur to be the second.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Sofia Kenin vs Jessica Pegula
Andrew:
A second all-American encounter in two rounds for Kenin. She grew in strength in the last round against Hailey Baptiste and this will make it tough for Pegula. The Buffalo native has been using her well balanced game and street smarts to get to this stage and I think this could be a long and arduous battle for both women. Ultimately though I am siding with the experience and court form of Kenin.
Prediction: Kenin in 3
Damian:
Kenin was in the middle of a dreadful season before Roland Garros, while Pegula was playing better than ever. It seems to have sort of evened out by now and the two should be in for a close bout here. Kenin’s superior experience on the big stage might make her a very tiny favorite.
Prediction: Kenin in 3
Jim:
Sofia Kenin has found a measure of form so far in Paris, hanging tough to edge out Jelena Ostapenko before beating her compatriot Hailey Baptiste in straight sets. This will be the acid test of her recent revival, with Jessica Pegula in the midst of the best season of her life. But it is a good matchup for Kenin, who will not be blasted off the court by Pegula. The 2020 Australian Open champion should have just about enough to return to the fourth round in Paris.
Prediction: Kenin in 3
Anett Kontaveit vs Iga Swiatek
Andrew:
It’s just disconcerting now for any opponent of the Pole. It’s less a case of “Can I win?”, more wondering if they can get four games in a set. There’s no way you can back against Swiatek at the moment and I think she’ll continue her run of consecutive sets by taking this in straights.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Damian:
Saving a match point against Viktorija Golubic has really awakened Kontaveit, but does she stand a chance against the machine that Swiatek is right now? Her powerful game gives her a better shot than the Pole’s previous opponents, but it’s still definitely on the unlikely side.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Jim:
At her very best, Anett Kontaveit can be almost unplayable, and the Estonian certainly impressed in brushing aside Kristina Mladenovic in the second round. But Iga Swiatek looks so at home on the courts at Roland Garros, with the Pole possessing a formidably wide array of skills. This will be her toughest test of the tournament so far, but it is one that the defending champion looks well-equipped to pass.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
