An entertaining opening day of the WTA Rouen Open included an impressive comeback victory for 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens. There are eight matches scheduled on the second day, with home hero Caroline Garcia one of those in action. We at LWOT predict the other day 2 matches in Rouen in a separate article, including Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Alice Robbe. But which two players do you think will win?
WTA Rouen Day 2 Predictions
Fiona Ferro vs Elina Avanesyan
Head-to-head: Avanesyan 1-0 Ferro
Clay is #144 ranked Fiona Ferro’s favourite surface. If she is going to break into the top 100, a strong run on the dirt is her best chance to do it. Unfortunately, this is not a good draw for the Frenchwoman. Avanesyan plays her best tennis on clay, although she has had some good results on hard courts this season as well. All 12 of her finals at ITF level have come on the surface. Ferro is fun to watch and there will undoubtedly be some good rallies in this match. But Avanesyan is likely to have too much at the WTA Rouen Open.
Prediction: Avanesyan in 2
Arantxa Rus vs Robin Montgomery
Head-to-head: first meeting
Rus suffered a brutal loss in her first clay court match of the season in Charleston. She lost the longest contest of the year so far to Katie Volynets in a final-set tiebreak, despite leading it 6-4. However, this is a great opportunity to put that setback behind her. Montgomery possesses some firepower that can be dangerous. But her playing style is most naturally suited to hard courts, with clay being her weakest surface. If Rus stays consistent, she should get her first WTA victory on clay this year.
Prediction: Rus in 2
Clara Burel vs Katarina Zavatska
Head-to-head: first meeting
Clara Burel usually plays her best tennis on clay, although she did suffer a disappointing loss to Katie Boulter at the Billie Jean King Cup last week on the surface. Katarina Zavatska is much lower ranked than her opponent but she too is a clay-court specialist. If the Ukrainian’s formidable forehand finds its range, this could be a close battle. Burel’s consistency may just edge it at the WTA Rouen Open, but expect the sets to be close.
Prediction: Burel in 3
Caroline Garcia vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Head-to-head: Garcia 3-1 Cocciaretto
Hopefully, Caroline Garcia is fully fit for this match. She seemed to be having some slight trouble with her shoulder during a loss to Emma Raducanu at the Billie Jean King Cup last week. Garcia did not play badly in that contest, simply being undone by an outstanding performance by the Briton. Elisabetta Cocciaretto plays her best tennis on clay and is a gritty, stubborn opponent. This is likely to come down to whether Garcia’s powerful serve and groundstrokes find their range. If they do, the Italian will get find it hard to cope at the WTA Rouen Open.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Main photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
