The third day of the French Open is here, which means we’re wrapping up the Round 1 matches (as well as some of Monday’s matches that were suspended due to the rain). It’s a big day of tennis, including Serena Williams’ Grand Slam debut as a mother. Predicting the five best Day 3 matches today are writers Brett Margolies and Jay Sandhu, along with editors Steen Kirby and Yesh Ginsburg.
French Open Predictions Day 3 Women’s Matches
Garbine Muguruza vs Svetlana Kuznetsova
Brett:
This is arguably the best match of the first round on the women’s side with two former champions playing each other. Kuznetsova isn’t nearly the same player she used to be, but nothing we’ve seen from Muguruza as of late would suggest she’s in form. Kuznetsova doesn’t have much to lose, and I think that’ll help her pull off the upset.
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 3
Jay:
Muguruza is another player who has had an extremely disappointing year, having only achieved good results in Monterrey and Doha. Kuznetsova has struggled since her return from a wrist injury and has not faced a top 10 player since Cincinnati last year (coincidentally Muguruza again), which means she may struggle to maintain her consistency against the Spaniard.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
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Steen:
It’s a travesty this match isn’t on a bigger court. Muguruza has more upside and should beat her pesky veteran opponent on the clay.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3
Yesh:
It’s not often you see two former champions of any tournament–let alone a Grand Slam–face off in the first round, but that’s what we get in Paris today. Kuznetsova is well past her prime, and Muguruze should be smack in the middle of hers, but the Spaniard has not been playing well recently at all. Either the challenge of Kuznetsova will push Muguruza to re-finding her form, or it will lead to an early exit. I’m guessing the latter.
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 3
Samantha Stosur vs Yanina Wickmayer
Brett:
Former Roland Garros finalist Samantha Stosur has struggled so far this year but usually plays well in Paris. (37-15 all time) Her game translates well to the red clay and might be what she needs to get some momentum to turn her season around.
Prediction: Stosur in 3
Jay:
Both Stosur and Wickmayer have seen better days and are at very low points in their careers, with both struggling to achieve wins. The Belgian has only won one WTA match over the past year and has struggled in ITF tournaments. Stosur is also far from her best, but it still able to win matches on tour and can achieve some good wins now and then, which gives her a clear advantage over her opponent.
Prediction: Stosur in 2
Steen:
Stosur leads the H2H and should be better on the surface. I’ll go with her in 2.
Prediction: Stosur in 2
Yesh:
Sam Stosur has been out of form recently. Perhaps the weight of expectations and her inability to repeat her lone Grand Slam title–or win any other big tournaments, at all–finally got to her. Either way, though, she is often a shell of her former self. Wickmayer is a tough opponent, but Stosur should have enough left to win this one.
Prediction: Stosur in 3
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Julia Görges vs Dominica Cibulkova
Brett:
I don’t think Cibulkova will have anything left after losing the finals in Strasbourg to Pavlyuchenkova in what was a 3 hour + marathon match. Görges is also a rough first round match; I think the German gets through fairly easily.
Prediction: Görges in 2
Jay:
Görges has been on the form of her life since the end of last year and is on the verge of entering the top 10 once again. However, she has had a surprising amount of first round loses recently and will be low on confidence following a first round defeat in her home country last week. Cibulkova, on the other hand, has not had a good year, but will be in good form following a very close loss to Pavlyuchenkova in the Strasbourg final last week and should just edge the German in this match
Prediction: Cibulková in 3
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Steen:
I’ll back Cibulkova’s form here, this should be a shotmaker’s dream of a matchup.
Prediction: Cibulkova in 2
Yesh:
Görges burst onto the scene a few years back, but her meteoric rise has fallen off the radar a bit. Still, she’s one of the most talented women on tour and always a threat to win the title. Cibulkova could have done well here with a better draw, but luck wasn’t with her.
Prediction: Görges in 2
Simona Halep vs Alison Riske
Brett:
It’s hard to believe, but Simona Halep says she’s feeling no pressure heading into her first match. Every slam the question is asked whether this is her time to win one finally. Alison Riske made the finals in Nurnberg last week, so she’s in form, but Halep should win comfortably.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Jay:
Halep has had a very patchy year; she has made the Australian Open and Italian Open final but has also struggled to find her form and has not been as dominant on clay as previous years. The American has also had some good results, such as beating Garcia earlier this year and making the final of Nuremberg last week, but also lacks consistency. Simona Halep should win this one, as she is the world number one after all and always plays well in Paris.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Steen:
Riske is in good form but Halep is the elite player and she’s also in good form on the surface.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Yesh:
A player can only take so much Grand Slam heartbreak, but Halep doesn’t seem to be at that point yet. She’s the clear superior to all but a handful of players in the field, and her mental struggles only seem to show up late in tournaments. She should win this match without too much trouble.
Prediction: Halep in 2
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Serena Williams vs Kristyna Pliskova
Brett:
I don’t think Serena would play unless she felt like she could win the tournament. There might be some nerves early on in the match, but Serena should have no problem here.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Jay:
Kristyna Pliskova has had a very successful clay season and her singles ranking has catapulted by 25 places since the start of the month. Serena has made a good start to her return, but is yet to play a match on the dirt, meaning she may make a slow start to proceedings. However, I believe Serena will fight past the Czech as she will be aided by the crowd and her experience will help her across the finishing line.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Steen:
Pliskova is no pushover, but it’s Serena–even with her lack of matchplay you have to pick her in an early round match like this until she starts losing.
Prediction: Williams in 3
Yesh:
Will there be some rust when Serena finally makes her competitive return? Probably. Does Pliskova have the game to pull off an unreal upset? Probably. Is it going to happen? Almost certainly not.
Prediction: Williams in 2
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