We close out the second round today and the early stages of this year’s French Open have delivered both brilliant matches and set us up well for the remainder of the event. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will complete the Round of 32 lineup?
French Open Day 5 Predictions
Aliona Bolsova vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova
Glenys Furness: Schmiedlova took out the 11th seed in the first round in a dominant performance. Bolsova came through qualifying and also eased through the first round to set up this interesting match up. Both are fairly equal here so it’s a tricky one to call
Prediction: Bolsova in 3
Yeshayahu Ginsburg: Bolsova took advantage of a Lucky Loser spot and made it to the second round. And now she gets an interesting matchup. Schmiedlova’s form from her opening match will easily win this for her. But that form had been invisible for months previous, so it’s hard to judge this one.
Prediction: Schmiedlova in 2
Jack Edward: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova pulled off a frankly bafflingly one-sided win over Veronika Kudermetova in the first round. This seemed to be more down to the world #11’s level so, whilst Schmiedlova’s playing well, I’m considering her the underdog in this match up against a tried and tested clay courter in Aliona Bolsova.
Prediction: Bolsova in 3.
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Rebecca Peterson vs Wang Xinyu
Glenys: This is a good match up as both are close in ranking. The Swede had the easier round, dropping only two games to get here. Wang also managed a straight set win, but against the 31st seed it was not easy. This will be the third meeting and the first on clay. They are both level on wins on the hard courts. Another tricky one to call.
Prediction: Peterson in 3
Yesh: Rebecca Peterson is an odd player to predict. She has runs of amazing form and runs of terrible form. And sometimes she’s in between. The way she played in her opening match suggests she’s on an amazing kick right now.
Prediction: Peterson in 2
Jack: Rebecca Peterson was given a fairly lax first round against Fiona Ferro—her next round against Xinyu Wang won’t be so easy. Nonetheless, though the Chinese was able to counter the steadiness of Marie Bouzkova in the previous round, it does feel as though the Swede hits the slightly bigger ball.
Prediction: Peterson in 3.
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Elisabetto Cocciaretto v Simona Waltert
Glenys: The Italian shocked Kvitova in the first round with a straight set win. Waltert came through qualifying and fought hard to get into the second round. Cocciaretto should be able to back up the excellent win last round.
Prediction: Cocciaretto in 2
Yesh: Simona Waltert came through a tight, fun opening-round match, but getting through Cocciaretto will be much more difficult. The Italian rarely dominates anyone, so she could lose a set, but she should never be in real danger.
Prediction: Cocciaretto in 2
Jack: Simona Waltert has done well to get this far coming through qualifying but Elisabetta Cocciaretto is a fair step up from her previous opponents. The Italian is incredibly steady on this surface and has risen as a threat in recent times. Waltert’s game shouldn’t be underestimated but this feels like a good opportunity to go deep at a Slam for Cocciaretto.
Prediction: Cocciaretto in 3.
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Coco Gauff vs Julia Grabher
Glenys: The American is sixth seed and had to go the distance in the first round. Gauff and Grabher have played each other once on the tour and the American took that match easily. This will be different, as that was a match in the Billie Jean King Cup. A totally different atmosphere to a Grand Slam.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Yesh: Coco Gauff looked on the way to a Round 1 exit before she flipped a switch. Can she keep her new-found level as she tries to defend last year’s final appearance? If she can’t, she won’t win this match.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Jack: An early exit for Coco Gauff feels imminent. It was a rather ropey opener against Rebeka Masarova, the consequence of a season lacking in confidence. There will probably be ropey moments against last week’s finalist in Rabat, Julia Grabher, but the Austrian doesn’t have the consistent power to take advantage of an under par world #6.
Prediction: Gauff in 3.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
