Day 1 of the Paris Olympics tennis tournament is Saturday, and it kicks off the men’s and women’s singles and doubles events. In addition to our regular predictions of all singles matches, as a special treat for you us at LastWordOnTennis will be sharing predictions for the Olympics doubles matches. Coco Gauff headlines Day 1 as she begins her quest for three medals in Paris. Will she advance? Predicting Saturday’s matches are Jordan Reynolds, Jim Smith, and Yesh Ginsburg. We also have predictions for the rest of the Day 1 matches in a separate article–featuring Angelique Kerber and Laura Siegemund vs Katie Boulter and Heather Watson, in what could be Kerber’s final career match. Who do you think will move on? (Note that in Olympic doubles, a third set is a match tiebreak–first team to ten points wins.)
As a special for the Olympics, we will also be predicting all of the day’s other matches, both singles and doubles. We will link to our other Olympic predictions at the bottom of the article. Enjoy!
Paris Olympics Day 1 Women’s Doubles Predictions
Saisai Zheng and Xinyu Wang (China) vs Lyudmula Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok (Ukraine)
Jordan:
The Kichenok sisters have enjoyed some doubles success together, including winning four titles. Wang is the most decorated women’s doubles player in this matchup after winning the French Open last year, but I will back the Ukrainians to progress. Their familiarity as a team makes them slight favorites.
Prediction: Kichenok and Kichenok in 3
Jim:
Experience will likely prove to be important at the Olympics in the doubles. The pressure will be on, which is where Nadiia and Lyudmila Kichenok will likely have the edge. The Chinese pair are probably the better players individually, but the Kichenok sisters should prove to be a more effective team.
Prediction: Kichenok and Kichenok in 2
Yesh:
Yes, the Kichenoks are sisters—twins, actually. And they’re really good at doubles. They have great rhythm and chemistry on the court. Very few fans might know their names before the Olympics, but don’t be surprised if they’re getting medals on the podium next week.
Prediction: Kichenok and Kichenok in 2
Yue Yuan and Shuai Zhang (China) vs Beatriz Haddad Maia and Luisa Stefani (Brazil)
Jordan:
Zhang and Haddad Maia have the most doubles experience of the four players, but Zhang is the most decorated as a two-time Grand Slam women’s doubles champion. The Chinese pair are narrowly favoured to progress. Stefanini has poor previous results in doubles, which might prove to be decisive.
Prediction: Yuan and Zhang in 3
Jim:
This looks like a potentially close match. But comparing the two teams, it is hard to escape the conclusion that Zhang Shuai will ultimately make the difference. All four are fine players, but Zhang Shuai boasts a superb record in the doubles, as well as an excellent singles career.
Prediction: Yuan and Zhang in 3
Yesh:
Zhang is only really comfortable on a doubles court nowadays, but the Brazilians are better overall and both fine with doubles too.
Prediction: Haddad Maia and Stefani in 2
Maria Lourdes Carle and Nadia Podoroska (Argentina) vs Tamara Korpatsch and Tatjana Maria (Germany)
Jordan:
Podoroska reached the semifinal in the women’s doubles at the French Open in 2021, while Maria was a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2018. Korpatsch and Lourdes Carle have had little previous success in doubles. Therefore, Maria may need to carry her partner somewhat, but the veteran has been struggling a lot on the singles court recently. It might not be the best time for her to carry such a burden.
Prediction: Lourdes Carle and Podoroska in 2
Jim:
At the risk of reducing another doubles match to a single player, given neither of these pairs compete together regularly, Tatjana Maria should have the skillset to have a significant impact. The German’s touch in the forecourt is excellent and her slice is invariably difficult to handle.
Prediction: Korpatsch and Maria in 3
Yesh:
Maria has been relatively quiet since her shocking semifinal run at Wimbledon two years back, but her game is built for doubles. Don’t underestimate her, and with Korpatsch they could go far.
Prediction: Korpatsch and Maria in 2
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula (United States) vs Daria Saville and Ellen Perez (Australia)
Jordan:
Pegula and Gauff’s results as a team have been quite mixed in the last 12 months. Still, their experience together should give them the edge. Perez has enjoyed some solid results in doubles, but her lack of match experience with Saville, who has not achieved much in doubles, is likely to be crucial.
Prediction: Gauff and Pegula in 2
Jim:
Daria Saville and Ellen Perez have the makings of a good doubles team. But Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are already better than most doubles teams. They have won five titles together and that is whilst both have principally focused on very successful singles career. There is only one winner here.
Prediction: Gauff and Pegula in 2
Yesh:
A doubles team made of two of the world’s best singles players who both excel at doubles too? That’s just not fair.
Prediction: Gauff and Pegula in 2
Other Olympic Predictions:
Men’s Singles Featuring Novak Djokovic vs Matthew Ebden
Men’s Singles Featuring Carlos Alcaraz vs Hedy Habib
Men’s Singles Featuring Daniil Medvedev vs Rinky Hijikata
Men’s Singles Featuring Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Zizou Bergs
Women’s Singles Featuring Bianca Andreescu vs Clara Tauson
Women’s Singles Featuring Iga Swiatek vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Women’s Singles Featuring Karolina Muchova vs Leylah Fernandez
Women’s Singles Featuring Danielle Collins vs Laura Siegemund
Women’s Singles Featuring Including Naomi Osaka vs Angelique Kerber
Men’s Doubles Featuring Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz vs Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni
Men’s Doubles Featuring Luciano Darderi and Lorenzo Musetti vs Nicolas Jarry and Alejandro Tabilo
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
