The first day of the French Open saw plenty of upsets, and Day 2 definitely has potential for more of the same. As always, we’re here to predict all of the matches for you. We’re splitting the day’s 24 matches between six articles. In addition to this article, our others feature Iga Swiatek vs Lesia Tsurenko, Oceane Dodin vs Andrea Petkovic, Victoria Azarenka vs Ana Bogdan, Bianca Andreescu vs Ysaline Bonaventure, and Angelique Kerber vs Magdalena Frech. Predicting these matches are Jim Smith, Yesh Ginsburg, and Andy Watson. Who do you think will win?
French Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Martina Trevisan vs Harriet Dart
Jim:
Martina Trevisan put together an excellent run at the French Open in 2020, reaching the quarterfinals, but there was little to suggest that it was anything other than a flash in the pan until her run in Rabat last week. Harriet Dart, meanwhile, has been struggling badly of late. Unless fatigue gets the better of Trevisan, this should be a relatively comfortable day at the office for the Italian.
Prediction: Trevisan in 2
Yesh:
This might be a good match on a grass court, which is Dart’s best and Trevisan’s weakest. But on Dart’s worst surface and Trevisan’s best? This won’t be close.
Prediction: Trevisan in 2
Andy:
The Italian must be in flying form having won her first WTA Tour title in Rabat but it can cut it a little fine to reach a final the weekend before a Slam and be ready to play again. Dart is having a fabulous season though I would doubt she is quite ready for a deep run here. Trevisan to win but after a slow start perhaps.
Prediction: Trevisan in 2
Lin Zhu vs Veronika Kudermetova
Jim:
Veronika Kudermetova’s form has tailed off slightly since her impressive run to the final at the Istanbul Cup, but her experience and solid technique should ensure that it is no more than a temporary blip. At any rate, despite Zhu Lin impressing in the qualifying, it would be a surprise to see Kudermetova beaten here.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Yesh:
Kudermetova is a good player who has huge potential. She just hasn’t really found it yet. A first-round match against Zhu should be a good chance for her to get a strong start here.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Andy:
The Russian seed should win this one. Kudermetova recently reached the final in Istanbul, albeit she lost in the opening round of both Masters events since then. Zhu rarely plays on the main tour so this is a different level for her and Kudermetova should be able to get ahead and stay there.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Madison Keys vs Anna Kalinskaya
Jim:
It has been a largely dispiriting clay-court swing for Madison Keys, with the American’s only win having come in early April on the green shale courts in Charleston. Fortunately for Keys, Anna Kalinskaya has been in equally poor form. Keys’ greater experience and power might just prove the difference here.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Yesh:
Keys is one of the most hit-or-miss players on tour right now. When she’s playing well, she can beat anyone. But she can also take some losses to players well beneath her level. I’ll trust the American here, but that’s a risky proposition.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Andy:
Neither of these players would say clay is their favourite surface. Both have losing records on the dirt and also neither are in particularly good form either. In this case I think that Keys has been losing to better players than Kalinskaya recently and perhaps she just needs to fall over the line here to build something.
Prediction: Keys in 3
Amanda Anisimova vs Naomi Osaka
Jim:
This is some first-round match. Naomi Osaka’s French Open campaign in 2021 ended acrimoniously in a dispute over press commitments, which may well have left her with a point to prove in 2022. But this a very tough first-round draw for the Japanese. Amanda Anisimova enjoyed a breakout run in Paris in 2019 and has looked to be getting back to something approaching her best in recent weeks. With Osaka still not that comfortable on the clay, expect Anisimova to have the edge.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Yesh:
On paper, this is a blockbuster match. In reality, Anisimova is rapidly finding her best while Osaka is struggling a bit, and clay isn’t her best surface to begin with.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Andy:
The match of the opening round by some distance. Osaka has a terrible career record on clay for someone of her talent. Anisimova, though, is a former semifinalist here and has some solid form behind her. Weighing up the type of match we will see I think that both ladies would like to go at each other with power which would possibly favor Anisimova with her movement not being exposed. If the American can get ahead then Osaka’s form could go down.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
