Third-round action concludes on Day 7 of the French Open. 16 women will compete for eight fourth-round spots. As always, we at LWOT are here to share our thoughts on the matches with you. We will be predicting all eight matches, split between this and a separate article. Predicting today’s matches are Fraser Learmonth, Jakub Bobro, and Damian Kust. Who do you think will win?
French Open Day 7 Women’s Predictions
Jessica Pegula vs Tamara Zidansek
Fraser:
Pegula was less than convincing again in her last match against Kalinina. Yet again she found a way to win though. That being said, Zidansek is was a semifinalist here last year and has found her best tennis in the first few matches of this tournament. Pegula is a top tier talent in the women’s game, but Zidansek is one of the best clay court players in the world. This should be a close match, but I suspect Zidansek will edge it.
Prediction: Zidansek in 3
Jakub:
Pegula came into Paris off of a final in Madrid but struggled a bit in her second round against Anhelina Kalinina. Zidansek is in a tough spot, defending a semifinal from last year and will drop from No. 25 to 60 if she loses to the American, surrendering the title of No. 1 Slovene to Kaja Juvan. Zidansek is seen as a pretty severe underdog here with how average she has been this season and the fact that she received a walkover from Mayar Sherif in the second round. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see the Slovenian win though.
Prediction: Zidansek in 3
Damian:
Jessica Pegula needed eighteen match points to complete her first and second-round wins. The American’s struggles to close out her matches theoretically shouldn’t bode too well for her chances, but in each case, she was able to overcome the disappointment. She remains the favorite against Tamara Zidansek, who made the semifinals here last year but hasn’t felt close to that form yet (she also needed just one win to get to the third round).
Prediction: Pegula in 3
Paula Badosa vs Veronika Kudermetova
Fraser:
Badosa was tested heavily by Juvan in her last match. The Spaniard hasn’t been as brilliant as she was in 2021, but tough matches may help bring back her best tennis. She faces another one here in Kudermetova. The Russian dispatched Krunic in straight sets to make it here and looked convincing in doing so. Badosa is the better player, but she will need to be near her best to come out on top in this one. Expect a three-set thriller here.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
Jakub:
Badosa did not have the clay season she imagined running into Simona Halep and Daria Kasatkina early in Madrid and Rome respectively and losing both matches. She will be hoping to make up for it in Paris but already dropped a set against Kaja Juvan in the second round. One of Badosa’s win at those tournaments was a three-and-love demolishment of Kudermetova. The Russian has never been past the third round at Roland Garros and I do not think she will break through this time.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Damian:
Paula Badosa survived a very tough test against Kaja Juvan and perhaps it will make her stronger in the long run. She’s got a losing head-to-head against Veronika Kudermetova, but almost smashed the Russian off the court twice this year. The conditions in Madrid suited her more and it won’t be that easy, but the result should remain the same.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Daria Kasatkina vs Shelby Rogers
Fraser:
I didn’t have Rogers making this match. However, she played superb tennis to dismiss fellow American Collins in the last round. She now faces a red hot Kasatkina who is on a charge towards reclaiming a birth in the top ten. The Russian has all the tools necessary to go deep at Roland Garros and her variety should prove to much for Rogers to handle.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Jakub:
The two came into Paris in opposite form; Rogers was winless in three clay matches while Kasatkina was coming off a semifinal run at Rome. The American has turned it around though with identical 6-4 6-3 wins over Tereza Martincova and more impressively, Danielle Collins. She will be the first real test for Kasatkina who has cruised past lucky loser Rebecca Sramkova and qualifier Fernanda Contreras Gomez, dropping only five games. Rogers could make it tricky but I see Kasatkina going through.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Damian:
Daria Kasatkina would love to capitalize on her very solid clay-court season and so far, she’s absolutely doing that. In her first two matches, the Russian handed her opponents two bagels and dropped just five games. Shelby Rogers has a knack for making big upsets at the Slams though and definitely shouldn’t be discounted. Still, it feels like Kasatkina is playing too well right now.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Danka Kovinic
Fraser:
It’s hard to write predictions when someone has been as good for as long as Swiatek has. The best of the best in the women’s game can’t lay a finger on her and haven’t been able to for 30 matches. Kovinic has played great tennis so far in Paris, but she doesn’t have the game to live with Swiatek, especially not on clay. Make it 31 and counting for the Polish superstar.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Jakub:
The Pole continues to be an unstoppable force in Paris as she has been all year. Undefeated in 30 straight matches since Dubai, Swiatek has only allowed Lesia Tsurenko and Alison Riske two games each and though Kovinic is not a bad player, it is near impossible for her to derail the Polish express here.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Damian:
Some players in the draw are capable of putting an end to Iga Swiatek’s run; it’s probably not going to be Danka Kovinic, though. You’ll likely have to be either an elite defender or really stand up to her in the baseline rallies, the 27-year-old is solid, but can do neither of these things.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
