Day 3 at the French Open sees the conclusion of the first round in both the women’s and men’s draws. There are 20 matches (each) scheduled for Tuesday, and as always, we’re here to predict them all for you. We split the 20 women’s matches between five articles. In addition to this article we have four others–featuring Danielle Collins vs Viktoriya Tomova, Karolina Pliskova vs Tessah Andrianjafitrimo, Paula Badosa vs Fiona Ferro, and Simona Halep vs Nastasja Mariana Schunk. Predicting these matches are Fraser Learmonth, Johnny Connell, and Jim Smith. Who do you think will win?
French Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Kaja Juvan vs Oksana Selekhmeteva
Fraser:
Juvan is fresh off a finals appearance in Strasbourg and looks poised to make some noise at the French Open. Her opponent, Selekhmeteva, is only just inside the top 200 in the women’s game and I struggle to see her maintaining the level needed to take two sets off Juvan here.
Prediction: Juvan in 2
Johnny:
Kaja Juvan is coming off an agonizing defeat in the Strasbourg final a few days ago where she succumbed to Angelique Kerber in an epic match lasting well over three hours. Juvan has little to recover before she faces qualifier Oksana Selekhmeteva. Nevertheless, Juvan’s form in Strasbourg was quite impressive, good enough to suggest that she should be strong enough in this matchup.
Prediction: Juvan in 2
Jim:
Kaja Juvan has found form at just the right time with an excellent run in Strasbourg. That will leave her with little time to recover for the French Open, but winning matches breeds confidence and this is, with the greatest of respect to Oksana Selekhmeteva, a winnable match for a player of her ability.
Prediction: Juvan in 2
Lucia Bronzetti vs Jelena Ostapenko
Fraser:
Ostapenko has been on a torrid run of form lately. Of course, that means the Latvian should then be considered a favorite to win this entire tournament. That’s the way things go with the Latvian. She is red hot or ice cold and never anything in between. Her poor run of matches leading up to this tournament makes me think she will go deep here, starting with a statement win against an in-form Bronzetti.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Johnny:
Jelena Ostapenko hasn’t done well in Paris ever since her sensational triumph at Roland Garros in 2017. Ostapenko has only won two matches at Roland Garros in her past four appearances, four of her last six appearances at the event ended in first round exits. Lucia Bronzetti is a solid opponent and will be there to capitalize if Ostapenko remains off her game. I’ll give Ostapenko the benefit of the doubt, she is due for a strong showing in Paris.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Jim:
It has been a long time since Jelena Ostapenko has looked like adding to her sole Grand Slam title, won at this very event in 2017, and the Latvian has been in no kind of form at all coming into this event. Lucia Bronzetti, meanwhile, looks to be a player on the rise. Expect her to demonstrate exactly why here by beating the former champion.
Prediction: Bronzetti in 3
Anhelina Kalinina vs Hailey Baptiste
Fraser:
Kalinina is the clear favorite here. The Ukrainian made the quarterfinals of back-to-back clay events in Charleston and Madrid. She’s comfortably inside the top 50 in the women’s game as a result and will be confident of another good run here. Baptiste can be a tricky opponent on her day. But Kalinina should have enough quality to find a way through in three sets.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
Johnny:
Anhelina Kalinina brings good momentum into Paris after a solid clay court season. The Ukrainian has been very solid on the clay in general over the last couple of seasons and should fancy her chances in this matchup against Baptiste. Baptiste is still a very raw talent; her weakness can be exposed on clay against a solid opponent like Kalinina.
Prediction: Kalinina in 3
Jim:
Anhelina Kalinina will unsurprisingly be the favorite heading into this match, but qualifier Hailey Baptiste’s chances shouldn’t be discounted. The American has shown an appetite for the big stage in the past and has the power to trouble most opponents. Still, on the clay, Kalinina should have too much guile for the young gun.
Prediction: Kalinina in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Chloe Paquet
Fraser:
Sabalenka has struggled to replicate the form that saw her storm up the rankings last year. Nevertheless, the Belarusian is still a top five player with immense power off both wings. That, in combination with her ferocious serve, likely make her too much to handle for Paquet here.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Johnny:
Aryna Sabalenka arrives in Paris with some good form to her name after a run to the semifinals in Rome a few weeks ago. Sabalenka has been anything but consistent this year but shouldn’t many issues in this favourable opening round matchup. Paquet is in terrible form and has never been a serious threat to the top players in the world. Sabalenka can lose to anyone on a bad day, but surely that not much of a chance here.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Jim:
There’s no reason why Aryna Sabalenka cannot win the French Open this year, but there are plenty of reasons why she probably won’t, not least a continuing lack of belief in her own abilities. But winning the title and winning in the first round are very different propositions. It would be a real surprise if Sabalenka cannot overpower Paquet.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
