The action at the French Open is set to get underway on Sunday, with the grounds in Paris playing host to a number of exciting matches on day one. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Victoria Azarenka vs Danka Kovinic, Simona Halep vs Sara Sorribes Tormo, Johanna Konta vs Cori Gauff and Anett Kontaveit vs Caroline Garcia. Offering their predictions for this slate of matches are Jim Smith, Andrew Watson and Pablo Mosquera Hasselbaink.
French Open Day One Women’s Predictions
Maddison Inglis vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Jim: Ekaterina Alexandrova’s returns at the Majors have been exceedingly unremarkable for a player of her gifts. She is certainly too good of a player never to have gone beyond the third round at a Grand Slam. But whether she manages to change that or not over the next two weeks in Paris, this is a more than winnable match for the Russian.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Andrew: Inglis has reached a ranking just outside of the top 100 on the back of some excellent results on the hard courts in Australia earlier this season. But all of her finals have been at ITF-level and on hard court, with Inglis rather inexperienced on clay. Alexandrova isn’t the most proficient clay courter either, but should be a level or two above the Australian here.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Pablo: One of the form players on the WTA Tour before the pandemic brought a halt to the season, Alexandrova has cooled off since the resumption. Her flat strokes don’t bite as much on clay as they do on hard. However, she should still overcome Inglis, whose last win came back in February.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
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Anna Blinkova vs Astra Sharma
Jim: This may not be one of the headline clashes on day one at the French Open, but it could well prove to be a very watchable match. Astra Sharma may not be at her best on the clay, but the Australian will be able to play with the freedom of a lucky loser. Will that be enough to take her past Anna Blinkova? Probably not, but expect her to push the Russian.
Prediction: Blinkova in 3
Andrew: In another Russian-Australian battle, the Russian once again looks like the favourite. Blinkova has been winning matches at a much higher level than the Australian lately. In fact Sharma’s last match ended in a one-sided loss to Martina Trevisan in the final round qualifying and the Italian is ranked far below Blinkova. Expect the Russian to progress in straight sets.
Prediction: Blinkova in 2
Pablo: It’s been a rocky 2020 for Blinkova following a stellar 2019, when she reached the French Open third round all the way from qualifying. But on clay she’s got an extra gear compared to the ex-Vanderbilt star Sharma, who earned her place in the draw as a lucky loser after a heavy defeat in the final round of qualifying.
Prediction: Blinkova in 2
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Camila Giorgi vs Martina Trevisan
Jim: One can never be quite sure what to expect from Camila Giorgi, who at her best can be almost unplayable but who is also all to often short of focus. But anything less than her best is likely to be punished by Trevisan, who excelled in coming through the qualifying. However, Giorgi typically plays her best tennis on the big stage. Expect her to edge out the qualifier.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
Andrew: This all-Italian match up may be closer than most would imagine. Trevisan beat Sharma 6-1 6-1 in the last round of qualifying and is clearly in form. However, Giorgi is always dangerous and if she finds her game there will be only one outcome.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
Pablo: In this first WTA meeting between the two Italians, Giorgi would do well not to underestimate the 26-year-old Trevisan, who is enjoying a career-best year. She has now qualified for the main draw at both the Australian Open and the French Open. Her momentum should be enough to carry her into the second round and possibly even beyond.
Prediction: Trevisan in 3
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Eugenie Bouchard vs Anna Kalinskaya
Jim: Eugenie Bouchard has been on quite some run since the season resumed, with the Canadian reaching the quarterfinals at the Prague Open before making the final at the Istanbul Cup as a qualifier. That was enough for her to earn a place in the main draw at the French Open as a wildcard and she has been handed a relatively kind draw. Anna Kalinskaya is a solid player, but one Bouchard should beat if she plays her best tennis.
Prediction: Bouchard in 3
Andrew: Whisper it quietly, but the Bouchard revival may have arrived at last. The Canadian reached the final in Istanbul and probably should have won that match. That followed a run to the last eight in Prague and some good tennis in the World Team Tennis competition. This won’t be an easy start, but Bouchard has been beating better players than Kalinskaya recently.
Prediction: Bouchard in 2
Pablo: Bouchard didn’t make the trip to the US Open swing, not due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, but because her ranking had plummeted outside of the top 300. However, she found her groove in Istanbul a couple weeks ago, winning six matches en route to the final. That showing earned her a wildcard in Paris. Expect her to take advantage of it against Kalinskaya, who didn’t look at all comfortable on the clay in Rome.
Prediction: Bouchard in 2
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