The 2024 WTA Internationaux de Strasbourg is the biggest event we’ll have on either tour in the week coming up. Who will enter Roland Garros with a lot of momentum after going deep in this tournament? Defending champion Elina Svitolina will hope to be in that conversation and she’s kicking off her campaign against Diane Parry on Sunday.
WTA Strasbourg Day 1 Prediction
Leylah Fernandez vs Anastasia Potapova
Head-to-head: Fernandez 3-0
They’ve played very recently in Madrid with Leylah Fernandez picking up a relatively tight straight-set win. Anastasia Potapova’s season has been nothing spectacular and it seems like the Russian has really stagnated by now, struggling to make the push to the Top 20 that seemed obvious a couple of years ago. Fernandez also slowed down after a good finish to 2023, but she’s probably a small favorite here given her lefty counter-punching was enough to beat Potapova just a couple of weeks ago.
Prediction: Fernandez in 3
Anhelina Kalinina vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Head-to-head: First meeting
Anhelina Kalinina couldn’t defend her points for making the Rome final, but the Ukrainian is still playing much better than a few months ago right now. Back then she was the seed everyone wanted to draw in many events, now she’s back to being more of a dangerous floater. Let’s see if she turns out a threat to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova as well. It’s the Russian veteran who has a much bigger game and should be able to play front-foot tennis here.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 2
Karolina Pliskova vs Clara Burel
Head-to-head: Burel 1-0
Karolina Pliskova has only played one tournament on clay this year so far and while her early results in 2024 seemed like a breath of fresh air, the Czech needs to show she can still do it on a surface that she used to be very good on despite her movement. Clara Burel was in the semifinals in Strasbourg last year and has already beaten a few top players with her neat all-round game and dangerous forehand. This is far from obvious and Pliskova will need to bring a really strong level to survive.
Prediction: Burel in 3
Diane Parry vs Elina Svitolina
Head-to-head: First meeting
Elina Svitolina is on an 8-match winning streak in Strasbourg with titles in the 2020 and 2023 editions. It’s a good moment to reflect on how she’s been playing the last 12 months or so with this event being where her comeback started big-time last year. Some of the magic seems to have worn off, but after all she had three match points against Aryna Sabalenka in Rome last week. Former junior No. 1 Diane Parry isn’t a pushover in the opening round here. It’s tough to go against Svitolina at this venue though and she looked great in the Italian capital.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
