The French Open tennis tournament moves into the third round. The tournament has contained some surprises here and there, but the big names outside of Angelique Kerber (who were initially in the draw) are still around.
Looking back to Thursday, we had a bit of a struggle with our tennis picks. We did cash in with Elina Svitolina. She actually dropped the first set to Tsvetana Pironkova, but still managed to win the next two sets. She only lost five games the rest of the way. However, we did lose with Eugenie Bouchard. The Canadian and former Top 10 player was horrible for us. She lost to Anastasja Sevastova 6-3, 6-0. Yes, Bouchard didn’t even win a single game in the second set. It was an ugly loss for us. We also lost with Marketa Vondrousova, although she actually put up a fight for us. She lost to Daria Kasatkina in straight sets, although the first set was in the tiebreak and the second set was merely 6-4.
At any rate, it’s time to look ahead. Here are three matches to think about on Friday:
Samantha Stosur vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands
For Samantha Stosur, it was the mixture of power and precision that helped her win against Kirsten Flipkens. Stosur was so dominant in the first set that she also lost just two points behind her serve. The straight-set victory over the Belgian meant she has reached the last 32 at Roland Garros for the ninth straight year. Also, she is on a seven-match winning streak, which does Stosur’s confidence a world of good. Can the old guard continue her excellent run of form against Bethanie Mattek-Sands?
Mattek-Sands was solid in her victory over comeback girl Petra Kvitova. The American took a medical timeout after the first set but that didn’t hinder her progress. The former Roland Garros doubles champion secured her place in the third round with the help of two tiebreakers. She was clutch when the situation demanded and courageous when needed. Mattek-Sands has reached the round of 32 in Paris for the first time since 2013. Can she make it count? This is an opportunity sector for the American, but Stosur feels so comfortable at Roland Garros that she gets the benefit of the doubt.
Pick: Stosur in three sets
Caroline Wozniacki vs. CiCi Bellis
Caroline Wozniacki romped into the third round in the most astonishing fashion. Wozniacki was ruthless against Canadian qualifier Francoise Abanda, to whom she dished out a double bagel. It’s the fourth time that Wozniacki has won a tennis match without losing a game. In the first round, Wozniacki needed three sets to close out French wildcard Jaimee Fourlis but on Wednesday, she was in a hurry. Things will only get tougher as she faces CiCi Bellis next in the third round.
CiCi Bellis is only 18 years old but is rapidly growing in stature. Her straight-set victory over No. 18 seed and last year’s surprising semifinalist Kiki Bertens suggests she is ready to make a big leap by winning outside her own country. Bertens had beaten Bellis recently in Rome, but her presence didn’t intimidate her yesterday. Can she continue to surprise? Trust the veteran experience of Wozniacki to get this done, but the match will be close.
Pick: Wozniacki in three sets
Garbine Muguruza vs. Yulia Putintseva
Garbine Muguruza made it clear she means business and is in the French capital to defend her title. The draw is unforgiving but she has improved her level of play. The Spaniard had to overcome Francesca Schiavone in the first round, and then had to dig deep to beat Anett Kontaveit, 6-7(6-4), 6-4, 6-2 in the second round. Muguruza’s survival indicates the danger she is going to have to deal with in the business rounds of the tournament. The Spaniard next faces Yulia Putintseva in the third round.
Putintseva was a quarterfinalist last year and is now halfway through to defending her quarterfinal points. Putintseva has had couple of good wins over Myrtille Georges and Johanna Larsson, but beating Muguruza is going to be a tall order. She is not likely to do it, even though she has a puncher’s chance.
Pick: Muguruza in straight sets
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