With a host of star names in action on day two at the French Open, expect plenty of entertaining tennis. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Petra Kvitova vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Linda Fruvirtova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Madison Keys vs Kaia Kanepi, Caroline Garcia vs Wang Xiyu and Jelena Ostapenko vs Tereza Martincova. But who will reach the second round?
French Open Day 2 Predictions
Karolina Pliskova vs Sloane Stephens
Andreas: Easily one of the matches of the first round, this is a rematch from the 2021 French Open when Stephens won in two sets. I predicted in a past article that Stephens would make a big run at the French; if she can stay consistent and positive, she should be motivated to win this match. Pliskova’s serve isn’t as much of a weapon as it used to be, and clay courts have traditionally been her worst surface.
Prediction: Stephens in 3
Damian: Nice vintage matchup, but will the quality of play actually be good? Stephens won at the French two years ago and yet despite her 4-1 lead in the head-to-head, they actually split their two clay meetings. With some momentum from Rabat last week, maybe the American emerges as a slight favorite here.
Prediction: Stephens in 3
Yesh: Stephens’ ranking woes continue, as she’s found no consistency, basically anywhere, since her 2017 US Open title. Still, she’s been at her best on clay, and has looked good in the lead-ups to this event. This won’t really be an upset, even if the rankings say it is.
Prediction: Stephens in 2
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Yulia Putintseva vs Maryna Zanevska
Andreas: Putintseva usually plays her best tennis on clay and picks up some surprising top 10 wins, but this clay season hasn’t been her best. Giving the edge to Zanevska, who seems to be closer to her peak.
Prediction: Zanevska in 3
Damian: Pretty fun contrast of styles and it’s hard to figure out who will prevail. Both are in rather mediocre form as well. A two-time quarterfinalist at the French Open, I think I’ll trust Putintseva to recapture at least some of that magic and prevail here.
Prediction: Putintseva in 3
Yesh: Putintseva can lose to anyone, but she shouldn’t. Her game can really just frustrate her opponents, and should lead to lots of wins against lower-ranked players. Will she lose this? Quite possibly. But she shouldn’t.
Prediction: Putintseva in 2
Anett Kontaveit vs Bernarda Pera
Andreas: Kontaveit’s game has unfortunately collapsed over the past year. A former No. 2 in the world, her groundstrokes have lacked consistency, and players have found out how to expose parts of her game. Pera went on a tear in the latter portion of 2022, and has continued to be a solid Top 40 player. The American should have the edge.
Prediction: Pera in 2
Damian: Kontraveit is struggling hard at the moment and this is not a good opening-round draw. Pera’s an excellent clay-courter with some extreme lefty topspin on her forehand. It helped her defeat the Estonian in Hamburg last year and she should be able to do it again.
Prediction: Pera in 2
Yesh: The fall for Anett Kontaveit has been as stunning as it was rapid. She’s still the better player, though, and we have to expect her to turn on her game at any moment.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
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Varvara Gracheva vs Dalma Galfi
Andreas: Gracheva’s last two tournaments have been solid, as she recently made the quarterfinals of Strasbourg. She’s also made the round of 32 in her last two French Open’s. Many of Galfi’s recent matches have been at the qualifying level, and her best results have been on hard courts.
Prediction: Gracheva in 2
Damian: Gracheva’s godlike level from the beginning of the year has disappeared, but she just picked up a couple of decent runs in Paris (WTA 125K) and Strasbourg again. With Galfi retiring in her last match, this doesn’t seem all that tough for the Russian.
Prediction: Gracheva in 2
Yesh: Galfi has been playing relatively well recently, but Gracheva is the better player in this match. The Russian hasn’t been amazing recently, but she’s been good enough to be favored in this.
Prediction: Gracheva in 3
Main photo credit: Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
