French Open 2020: Women’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction
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French Open 2020 is all ready to kick-off from this Sunday. All the superstars will fight tooth and nail to claim the ultimate prize at the Roland Garros, while some players will try to stun everyone and create an upset or two. In the absence of defending champion Ashleigh Barty and three-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, the draw opens up quite considerably and like always, there is a huge amount of unpredictability surmounting the women’s draw.
No one should forget, though, the several changes that are taking place at the French Open this year. The Grand Slam is taking place in September instead of the usual May-June slot and with only a limited number of crowd due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the conditions are expected to be cooler and this time around, there is a change in balls from the usual Babolat. The balls this year will be supplied by Wilson, which are going to be much lighter in weight. So keeping all this in mind, let us find out who fares well and who will have a disappointing outing at the French Open 2020.
Top Seeds at the French Open 2020:
- 1. Simona Halep
- 2. Karolina Pliskova
- 3. Elina Svitolina
- 4. Sofia Kenin
- 5. Kiki Bertens
French Open 2020: Women’s Singles Draw Prediction
Top Half
First Quarter
The first quarter has some jaw-dropping talent in the form of two times Major champion Simona Halep, 5th seed Kiki Bertens, 9th seed Johanna Konta and 20th seed Maria Sakkari along with former Wimbledon Finalist Eugenie Bouchard and teenage sensation Coco Gauff.
Halep has got an easy draw and she starts her proceedings against Sara Sorrebes Tormo. The World No. 2 Romanian is expected to reach the quarterfinals without a fuss.
On the other hand, Johanna Konta has a tough opening round match against Coco Gauff and if she manages to defeat her, the Brit is expected to run into Maria Sakkari in the third round. If she clears that hurdle too, Kiki Bertens may be waiting for her in the Round of 16. Given Konta is looking better than Bertens in terms of form, she is expected to face Halep in first quarters clash.
Players to watch out for: Eugenie Bouchard and Coco Gauff
1st Quarterfinal Prediction: Simona Halep vs Johanna Konta
Second Quarter
This quarter may witness the battle of the battles between 23-time Major champion and sixth-seed Serena Williams against the woman who is the talk of the town and 10th seed Victoria Azarenka. The second quarter also includes the likes of 3rd seed Elina Svitolina, 16th seed Elise Mertens, 17th seed Anett Kontaveit and one of the greats of the sport, Venus Williams. This quarter is arguably the toughest in the women’s draw.
Elina Svitolina may face talented Ekaterina Alexandrova as early as in third round and she must back herself to win the encounter, setting up a mouth-watering Round of 16 clash against either Mertens or Kontaveit. Mertens always raises her game to another level when it comes to Grand Slam tournaments, therefore, a fourth-round match between Svitolina and Mertens is looking more likely to happen. Mertens, however, may not stop here and make it to the last-eight stage on the red clay.
On the other hand, Victoria Azarenka runs into Venus Williams as early as in Round of 64. If she gets out of that, the Belarusian may very well lock horns with the younger Williams in the fourth round itself. It’s a shame that a potential championship match may be played as early as in Round of 16. It is a repeat of the semifinal match at the US Open earlier this month, and Serena may avenge her defeat against her nemesis.
Player to watch out for: Venus Williams
2nd Quarterfinal Prediction: Elise Mertens vs Serena Williams
Bottom Half
3rd Quarter
Moving to the bottom half and third quarter, it includes the likes of defending Australian Open champion and 4th seed Sofia Kenin, 8th seed Aryna Sabalenka and former French Open champion and 11th seed Garbine Muguruza.
Sabalenka is expected to reach Round of 32 where she may face 30th seed Ons Jabeur. If she manages to get past the Tunisian, Sabalenka may very well run into Muguruza in the fourth round. Muguruza must back herself to at least reach the quarters, therefore, ending the run of Sabalenka.
On the other hand, Sofia Kenin may find her going tough, as she can go against talented players in the form of 26th seed Donna Vekic and 14th seed Elena Rybakina in third and fourth rounds, respectively. Nevertheless, Kenin looks a more likely opponent for Muguruza in the quarters.
Player to watch out for: Darya Kasatkina
3rd Quarterfinal Prediction: Garbine Muguruza vs Sofia Kenin
4th Quarter
This quarter includes one of the top contenders of the trophy at the Roland Garros Karolina Pliskova, two-time Wimbledon champion and 7th seed Petra Kvitova, 12th seed Madison Keys and multi-time Grand Slam winner and 18th seed Angelique Kerber.
Kvitova has got an easy draw and she is expected to reach at least the fourth round without any difficulty. If she manages to do so, the Czech may set up an edge-of-a-seat thriller encounter against Kerber in the Round of 16. Kerber may prove to be quite hot to handle for Kvitova, thus ending the Czech’s run in the fourth round itself and Kerber may march into the last-eight.
On the other hand, Karolina Pliskova has a tough draw as she may face former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko in as early as Round of 64. If Pliskova gets past her, she may run into 29th seed and former US Open champion Sloane Stephens in the third round. if the Czech manages to clear that hurdle also, she may face either 13th seed Petra Martic or local favourite Kristina Mladenovic in the fourth round. Pliskova looked in tremendous touch in Rome last week and she must back herself to book a spot in the quarters. Having said that, Pliskova withdrew from the final in Rome, and her run at Roland Garros is subject to whether she has fully recovered from her injury.
Players to watch out for: Kristina Mladenovic and Madison Keys
4th Quarter Final Prediction: Angelique Kerber vs Karolina Pliskova
French Open 2020: Quarterfinals
The 1st quarterfinal is expected to have its fair share of twists and turns. Halep is coming into this tournament uneaten since the Tour resumed and she may win her battle against Johanna Konta. 2nd quarterfinal, though, looks a damp squib, as Serena Williams may not even need to break a sweat against Elise Mertens and easily march into the semis.
The 3rd last-eight encounter witnesses a tussle between two Grand Slam champions in the form of Muguruza and Sofia Kenin. Having said that, Muguruza has more control on her game on clay surface than Kenin, and therefore, she may very well book her spot in the semis. The last quarterfinal will have Pliskova and Kerber, and it looks like the former may edge pas the German in what can be a marathon contest.
1st Semifinal Prediction: Simona Halep vs Serena Williams 2nd Semifinal Prediction: Garbine Muguruza vs Karolina Pliskova
French Open 2020: Semifinals
It is no secret to the fact that the red clay is not one of the preferred surfaces for Serena Williams. Halep doesn’t have that issue, even being former French Open champion. So, the Romanian may exploit that weakness of Serena in the first semifinal and seal a place in the championship match. Nevertheless, a great battle is sure to witness on the court if these two women get a chance to go against each other.
In the second semifinal, Muguruza and Pliskova may play a memorable match. Pliskova is in form and who knows she might have defended her crown in Foro Italico if she had not been injured. If all goes well, Pliskova may carry her form at Roland Garros and book a ticket for the final against Halep.
Final Prediction: Simona Halep vs Karolina Pliskova
French Open 2020: Final
If the prediction goes on point, we may witness a rematch of Rome Final at the French Open. Unfortunately, due to her injury, Pliskova was unable to complete the match at WTA Premier 5 event and she may get a chance to avenge her defeat against Halep.
Having said that, Halep has a better chance than Pliskova to become a three-time Grand Slam champion. What we can hope for that these women play the match of the tournament.
So Halep fans, time to celebrate, the Romanian may lift her third overall Major crown and second at Roland Garros!
French Open 2020 Winner Prediction: Simona Halep
Also read: French Open 2020: Men’s Singles Draw Preview, Analysis and Prediction
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Kushagra Gupta
(349 Articles Published)