Day 3 at the French Open sees the conclusion of the first round in both the women’s and men’s draws. There are 20 matches (each) scheduled for Tuesday, and as always, we’re here to predict them all for you. We split the 20 women’s matches between five articles. In addition to this article we have four others–featuring Aryna Sabalenka vs Chloe Paquet, Karolina Pliskova vs Tessah Andrianjafitrimo, Paula Badosa vs Fiona Ferro, and Simona Halep vs Nastasja Mariana Schunk. Predicting these matches are Fraser Learmonth, Johnny Connell, and Jim Smith. Who do you think will win?
French Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Mayar Sherif vs Marta Kostyuk
Fraser:
Sherif is the in-form player, but I like Kostyuk to advance here. The Ukrainian has had a quite year so far and is too talented for that to remain the case much longer. She has immense power in her groundstrokes and should be able to hit through Sherif if she can keep her unforced error count down.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Johnny:
Marta Kostyuk has had a disappointing clay court season to date and faces a stern test against clay court specialist Mayar Sherif first up in Paris. I’m giving Kostyuk the benefit of the doubt in this matchup, even if her recent form isn’t good. Kostyuk is definitely the better player and is the type of player that can raise her level at bigger events such as the Majors.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 3
Jim:
Mayar Sherif recently became the first Egyptian woman to break into the top 50 and she will surely be full of confidence as a result. But this is a potentially tough first-round draw. That said, Marta Kostyuk has not been playing her best tennis of late and unless she can find a way to raise her level, Sherif should have just about enough to reach the second round.
Prediction: Sherif in 3
Rebecca Sramkova vs Daria Kasatkina
Fraser:
Kasatkina has the look of a top ten player about her again. The Russian started last year red hot and looked set to charge back into the top ten in the women’s game before her season tapered off slightly. However, a deep run here on the back of her semifinal run in Rome may well be enough to get that momentum going again. She is certainly the better player in better form here.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Johnny:
Daria Kasatkina arrives in Paris full of confidence on the back of a run to the semifinals in Rome. It’s been a positive clay court swing for Kasatkina who also claimed notable wins in Stuttgart and Madrid. Conversely, Rebecca Peterson is in poor form, making Kasatkina the obvious pick in this matchup.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Jim:
One can never be quite sure what to expect from Daria Kasatkina, but the Russian looked sharp on her last outing in Rome. Lucky losers are never easy to come up against, with Rebecca Sramkova having nothing to lose the Slovakian will be able to swing freely, but this looks like a winnable match for a player of Kasatkina’s ability.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Aleksandra Krunic vs Kamilla Rakhimova
Fraser:
Recent history is doing my job for me here. These two have met three times in the last 15 months. The Russian has won all three of those meetings, the most recent of which was on clay last month in Bogota. As such, I am going to back her to prevail again here, though I expect it will be another close battle that will likely go the distance.
Prediction: Rakhimova in 3
Johnny:
Aleksandra Krunic did well to come through the qualifying draw, a couple of her wins were tough three set wins, so she’s definitely settled into the tournament and used to the conditions in Paris. On the other hand, Rakhimova hasn’t been winning many matches of late and is probably a little rusty heading into this matchup. Krunic is the better player in general and should be too solid given her form through qualifying.
Prediction: Krunic in 2
Jim:
Aleksandra Krunic rolled back the years with an impressive run through the qualifying, scoring wins over Gabriela Lee, Grace Min and Reka Luca Jani. But Kamila Rakhimova marks a step up in the quality of opposition. That said, the Russian has hardly been in sparkling form of late. If Krunic maintains the level she displayed in the qualifying, she might just have enough to spring an upset.
Prediction: Krunic in 3
Danielle Collins vs Viktoriya Tomova
Fraser:
Danielle Collins has been one of the best players in the women’s game over the last 12 months. Expect that run to continue here against an opponent in Tomova who isn’t quite of the level required to upset the American wrecking ball at this early stage of the Major.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Johnny:
Viktoriya Tomova enters the main draw as a Lucky Loser, having succumbed in a final set tiebreaker at the final stage of qualifying. Tomova is unlikely to have much luck against the ninth seeded Danielle Collins. Tomova has suffered losses to Diana Shnaider, Eva Lys, Rebecca Marino and Olga Danilovic in her last four tournaments, opponents well below Collins’ calibre.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Jim:
Danielle Collins should be targeting the second week at this year’s French Open. Clay may not be her best surface, but the American has a solid all-round game that makes her tough to beat for all but the best in the game. Tomova is not without quality, but it is hard to see her getting the better of Collins.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
