Expect plenty of exciting tennis on day one at the French Open with 20 first-round matches on the schedule on the opening day in Paris. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Ons Jabeur vs Magda Linette, Kristina Mladenovic vs Leylah Fernandez, Kaia Kanepi vs Garbine Muguruza and Kaia Kanepi vs Garbine Muguruza. But who will advance?
French Open Day 1 Predictions
Bernarda Pera vs Jil Teichmann
Jim: Bernarda Pera has scored some good results on the clay of late, but this is a tough draw for the American. Jil Teichmann is not as consistent as she would like, but when she is in form she is a very difficult opponent to play, particularly on the clay thanks to her powerful top-spin forehand. If she plays as well as she did in Madrid and Rome, expect her to beat Pera comfortably enough.
Prediction: Teichmann in 2
Jakub: Pera has had a good clay season, going 7-3 and reaching the final of a WTA 125k in Karlsruhe. Teichmann has never gone past the first round at Roland Garros but is bound to make it this year, coming after Madrid semifinals and Rome quarterfinals. This should be a high-quality match between two good clay courters but I expect the Swiss to come out on top.
Prediction: Teichmann in 3
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Alison Van Uytvanck vs Ann Li
Jim: Ann Li will make her return to action for the first time since the Miami Open when she steps on to court to play Alison Van Uytvanck. It seems like a tall order for the American to find her feet so quickly on the clay, even if she is facing an opponent in Van Uytvanck who prefers faster surfaces.
Prediction: Van Uytvanck in 2
Jakub: Van Uytvanck entered just one clay tournament before Roland Garros, losing in the second round of the 125k in Karlsruhe. Li skipped the clay season all together, not playing since Miami. Van Uytvanck does have more clay experience, even reaching the quarterfinals here in 2015. The Belgian has to be the favourite for me.
Prediction: Van Uytvanck in 2
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Sorana Cirstea vs Tatjana Maria
Jim: Sorana Cirstea enjoyed a breakout run at the French Open in 2009, reaching the quarterfinals, but has reached the second week just once since then. But that was last season. At any rate, with Tatjana Maria far more comfortable on faster surfaces, expect Cirstea to have a straightforward day at the office.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Jakub: Cirstea reached a semifinal in Istanbul to start her clay season but is currently on a four-match losing streak since. Maria won her second career WTA title in Bogota last month. The German then played a stretch of American ITFs before losing the first round in Karlsruhe to Mihaela Buzarnescu. Cirstea is defending a fourth round here and though she might not make it all the way, I do think she will make this first step towards it.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
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Camila Osorio vs Harmony Tan
Jim: It could be a big French Open for Camila Osorio. But she will not have things all her own way up against Harmony Tan in the first round. The crowd will doubtless be right behind Tan and what she lacks in power she makes up for in foot speed and fighting spirit. Still, Osorio is a cut above and should have enough to advance, even if she is made to work hard for her win.
Prediction: Osorio in 3
Jakub: Osorio Serrano is looking for her first main draw Roland Garros win. She did not play much this clay season, making the semifinals in Bogota over players she was a big favorite against before going to Rome and exiting in the second round. Tan is continuing the pattern of French wildcards out of form, going 2-5 on clay this season with her only wins coming against Samantha Stosur and Lauren Davis. The Colombian should get the win here.
Prediction: Osorio Serrano in 2
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