Roland Garros, women’s draw: the only Italian on court today is veteran Errani, who shined in the qualifiers. News and predictions.
On the day that finally sends the first round into the archives, the only Italian starring is veteran Sara Errani, who at 37 years old still wants to have her say. Paris, then, is a special place for the Bologna-based player, who in 2012 came here to play her first (and only) Slam final. Errani had to start from the qualifiers, which she passed brilliantly without losing a single set.
In short, one could safely give her confidence in her first-round match with Slovak Schmiedlova: the Azzurra’s greater experience is likely to make the difference against an opponent who, despite having recently won the Parma Challenger, has won only one match between Madrid and Rome. Anna Blinkova and Sorana Cirstea, on the other hand, both go on the hunt for redemption: the season on red so far has not brought great satisfaction, but if there is one among the two who can find herself on the crushed brick, it is the Romanian tennis player, who in Madrid and Rome had to surrender to two superior players like Swiatek and Keys. She will have to be careful instead Paula Badosa, who is engaged against one of the most improved tennis players in the last year. That is Britain’s Katie Boulter, now among the top 30 in the world (she is 28th). Clay, however, is still uncharted territory for the Leicester native and she is unlikely to overturn the odds against the former world number two. A likely one-sided match finally between Russian teenager Erika Andreeva, sister of the better-known Mirra, and Aryna Sabalenka, number 2 as well as big favorite along with Iga Swiatek. The Belarusian made it to the finals in both Madrid and Rome and will probably go a long way in Paris as well.
Insidia Stephens for Putintseva
Between the most interesting matches, we cannot but include the one between Yulia Putintseva and Sloane Stephens. The Kazakh woman performed well in Madrid and Rome but exited in the first round in Strasbourg, while the American, inconstant and far from her best days, is coming off four straight losses in singles.
Putintseva slightly favored, then, although it may not be a short-lived match. A third set cannot be ruled out in the match between Arantxa Rus and Angelique Kerber either, with the Dutchwoman likely to give the German veteran a run for her money. Finally, Elena Rybakina, while not shining in terms of continuity in the last period, is a clear favorite over Belgian Minnen.
Possible winners
Cirstea in Blinkova-Cirstea.
Badosa in Boulter-Badosa
Stearns in Ciric Bagaric-Stearns
Errani in Errani-Schmiedlova
Putintseva in Putintseva-Stephens
Roland Garros, predictions on the games
Minnen-Rybakina (under 18.5).
Rus-Kerber (over 20.5)
Andreeva-Sabalenka (under 17.5)
Putintseva-Stephens (over 20.5)