The French Open second round begins on Day 4. Every woman playing on Wednesday already has a match under her belt. We can know how well they played least once before they take the court on Day 4. And, we’re here to predict these Day 4 matches for you. (We also have two other sets of Day 4 predictions. One features Sloane Stephens vs Sara Sorribes Tormo and the other headlines Garbine Muguruza vs Johanna Larsson.) Predicting these matches today are myself (Yesh Ginsburg), Jim Smith, and Jay Sandhu.
French Open Day 4 Women’s Predictions
Jennifer Brady vs Polona Hercog
Jim:
Both Brady and Hercog had to work very hard to secure their places in the second round, with Hercog coming through a 14-game deciding set to beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Brady outlasting Ivana Jorovic in three. There isn’t much between the two on paper, but Hercog is the more comfortable on the clay and that should just about give her the edge in this one.
Prediction: Hercog in 3
Jay:
Brady has improved a lot this season and battled hard in the first round, but Hercog has a lot more experience and in my opinion is just a better player. It will be close but Hercog should win
Prediction: Hercog in 3
Yesh:
Brady got through the rising Ivana Jorovic impressively in a third set on Monday, in a match that carried over from Sunday. Still, she’s on less rest and her Round 1 win wasn’t as impressive as Hercog’s. This should be a tight match, but I’ll go with the Slovenian by a hair.
Prediction: Hercog in 3
Viktoria Kuzmova vs Kiki Bertens
Jim:
Bertens is surely one of the favourites for the French Open title and she wore that burden lightly in the first round, dismissing Pauline Parmentier in straight sets comfortably enough. Kuzmova also impressed against Alize Cornet and this won’t be a walk in the park for Bertens. But the fourth seed has the tools to get by Kuzmova and it would be a real surprise were she to fail to use them.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Jay:
Kuzmova won their first match, but Bertens learnt a lot from it and bageled her to win in 3 in Miami. Bertens is arguably the favorite to win the tournament and I don’t see her losing this early to a player that she has beaten quite easily before.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Yesh:
Bertens’ recent form has been incredible. She might have lost to Kuzmova earlier this year, but the Dutchwoman is rapidly improved since then. This match won’t be close, nor would almost anyone else against Bertens.
Karolina Pliskova vs Kristina Kucova
Jim:
Pliskova rarely comes to mind as one of the foremost clay courters on the WTA tour, but there is no doubting that she is in good form. Her run to the Italian Open title was very impressive and she picked up in Paris where she left off in Rome by dispatching Madison Brengle with ease. She may well, however, be worked harder by qualifier Kucova, who has been playing great ball in Paris. But Pliskova’s serve is the sort of reliable weapon that Kucova lacks and should prove the difference.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Jay:
Kucova has had a good run up to this point, but Pliskova has been too good lately. Currently, I don’t see any player beating Pliskova when she’s playing like she is at the moment and I don’t think Kucova will offer up much of a challenge.
Prediction: Pliskova in 2
Yesh:
Kucova has looked impressive so far in Paris. Her good form might not end on Wednesday, but her French Open will. Pliskova is just too good right now, even on clay. Don’t be surprised if Kucova sneaks a set, though.
Prediction: Pliskova in 3
Johanna Konta vs Lauren Davis
Jim:
Konta has emerged as something of a force on the clay in recent weeks and finally broke her duck at Roland Garros with an assured 6-4 6-4 win over Antonia Lottner in the first round. If she can find that level against Davis, then expect the Briton to continue her unexpected clay-court renaissance by reaching the third round in Paris.
Prediction: Konta in 3
Jay:
Although Konta got her very first win in Paris, it was far from impressive. She looked tight throughout the entire match, whereas Davis played a lot better in her match against Kristyna Pliskova. I’m predicting the upset here as Konta has never played well in Paris
Prediction: Davis in 3
Yesh:
Johanna Konta finally won a French Open match. Now that she has that out of the way, and her clay form is rapidly improved, she should be able to move past Lauren Davis without too much trouble.
Prediction: Konta in 2
Main Photo:
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