We wrap up the men’s and women’s first rounds on Day 3 of the French Open. 20 women will book their places in the second round on Tuesday. But who will those women be? As always, we here at LWOT share our thoughts on the matches for you. We split all 20 of the matches between five articles. Our other four articles for Day 3 feature Coco Gauff vs Rebeka Masarova, Iga Swiatek vs Cristina Bucsa, Elena Rybakina vs Brenda Fruhvirtova, and Ons Jabeur vs Lucia Bronzetti. Predicting this set of matches are Jack Edward, Jim Smith, and Yesh Ginsburg.
French Open Day 3 Predictions
Emma Navarro vs Erika Andreeva
Jack:
It feels a little early in the Erika Andreeva career to expect her to raise the bar her sister has set. The Russian is a little unpolished on the court, more so in the slow conditions of the French Open. Emma Navarro should be able to exploit this, having displayed great patience and rally temperament in Strasbourg last week.
Prediction: Navarro in 3
Jim:
Andreeva’s charge through the qualifying was brought to a fairly decisive halt by Olga Danilovic, but the Russian secured a place in the main draw as a lucky loser. With nothing to lose, don’t be surprised to see her get the better of Navarro here–the American is hardly a clay-court heavyweight after all.
Prediction: Andreeva in 2
Yesh:
Erika Andreeva is somewhat of a phenom, though not quite at the level of younger sister Mirra. Navarro is an extremely underrated consistent player, especially on clay, and her solid all-around game should be tough for the Russian here.
Prediction: Navarro in 2
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Anhelina Kalinina vs Diane Parry
Jack:
Diane Parry gives players a different look on a clay court. Anhelina Kalinina will be used to redirecting the pace of her opponent’s backhands using her own sublime open-stance backhand but this won’t work as well against the unusually heavy one-hander of Parry. It’ll probably end up being more of a grind than Kalinina would like but the consistent quality she showed in Rome still makes her the favourite.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
Jim:
Parry comes into this match in solid form after winning a WTA 125k title in Paris (albeit by a walkover in the final) and reaching the semifinals at an ITF-event in Tucepi. If she can use that confidence and the support of the crowd, she should have enough to get past Kalinina.
Prediction: Parry in 3
Yesh:
Parry won a title two weeks ago in extremely impressive form, but I generally feel that Kalinina is the better player. However, given Parry’s form and a home crowd, I like the Frenchwoman to move on.
Prediction: Parry in 3
Sorana Cirstea vs Jasmine Paolini
Jack:
Both Sorana Cirstea and Jasmine Paolini have won a title on clay in the last few weeks. I was more impressed with Paolini’s run to the title in Florence, however, overcoming some extremely close score-lines to be crowned champion. By the end of the week, she was scrapping for every single point—that tenacity could be enough to pull off the upset here.
Prediction: Paolini 3
Jim:
This promises to be an entertaining clay-court battle between two players who are most at home on the terre battue. But it is probably Paolini who has been playing the better tennis, albeit only marginally. Expect the Italian to be the player to reach the second round.
Prediction: Paolini in 3
Yesh:
This match, like so many at this level, will be a battle of who can find their consistency throughout. Cirstea is the better player, but not enough to dominate. This will come down to who is most consistent on the day, and that can go either way.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
Victoria Azarenka vs Bianca Andreescu
Jack:
Victoria Azarenka isn’t the best clay courter but she should be approached with caution at a Grand Slam. Bianca Andreescu will know the Belarusian is capable of raising her level for the majors—there may not be a whole lot Andreescu can do to stop Azarenka, however, if she’s still feeling a little precarious on her feet after her injury.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2
Jim:
This is some match for the first round at a Major–if also a nightmare first-round draw for both Azarenka and Andreescu. This could probably go either way with neither exactly in scintillating form, but Azarenka has at least won a match on the European clay this season.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
Yesh:
What a blockbuster first-round match. Andreescu hasn’t been herself since her stunning 2019, and Azarenka hasn’t been the same since her pregnancy break and custody battle. But the Belorussian is playing better right now, so she’s my pick.
Prediction: Azarenka in 3
Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
