Will Venus, Muguruza, Mladenovic, and Wozniacki Continue Into the 2nd Week?
As week 2 of the French Open begins, let’s take a look at the precursors to the matches that are about to be played on the women’s side of the draw on Sunday.
Venus Williams vs. T. Bacsinszky
Venus Williams played E. Mertens in her Round of 32 match, and blew through her opponent 6-3, 6-1. Many people had written off Venus, not taking her as a serious contender. Yes, Venus could make it deep into the draw, but nobody has been expecting her to play as good as she is right now, with her aggressive playing style, swing volleys, and moving into the net.
Venus overpowered and outmaneuvered the Belgian. The first set had 5 breaks, but Venus managed to hold at love and win the set. In the second set, Venus had a shaky start as Merterns found her footing and began to domiate points. However, after the first game, Venus fired out point after point winning the next six games in a row and taking the match.
Venus who has been making much news for accidentally (or perhaps not) revealing Serena’s baby’s gender will play Timea Bacsinszky next. The last time they played was in the same round of 16 last year at the French Open. Timea won that match 6-2, 6-4. Although Venus leads the head to head 2-1, both of the matches that she won were on hard court, while Timea won the only match they played on clay. Bacsinszky has won 7 of her last 10 matches on clay. Venus has won 6 of her last 8 matches on clay. Considering the way that Venus has been playing on clay so far, and the ease with which she seems to be dominating her matches, Bacsinszky may lose the match. However, it will not be easy, and Bacsinszky may be able to outplay the American.
Prediction: Bacsinszky in 3.
Mladenovic vs. Muguruza
Mladenovic has not been having the easiest time at this French Open. With niggling back pains, Mladenovic has struggles through some of her matches. In her third round match Mladenovic played Shelby Rogers, and barely managed to get by in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 8-6. This is Mladenovic’s first time progressing past the third round in the single’s draw of the French Open.
Her match against Shelby Rogers wasn’t tough because Mladenovic wasn’t playing her A game, but more because Shelby Rogers was playing amazing. Mladenovic even said in her post match interview that she has no idea how she won that match, and that Shelby Rogers has an amazing game on clay. Mladenovic was down in the third set 2-5, and somehow made it back to win the match. Even when Mladenovic’s serve was going haywire due to her back injury, and she had more than twice the number of double faults than aces, Maldenovic kept strong and continued to push through the match.
“It was epic.” That was what Mladenovic had to say about the match.
Mladenovic will be playing Garbine Muguruza in the round of 16. Muguruza has not been having the easiest time this French Open either, mostly due to her inconsistent tennis at the beginning of the matches. It seems however, that Muguruza has been getting her game together as the matches progress.
In her last match Muguruza played Yulia Putintseva, and won in straight sets 7-5, 6-2. Although Yulia’s return game was strong, and her overall game on clay was good, Yulia was unable to serve well enough to deter Muguruza’s offensive game. Once Muguruza was able to break and hold her own serve to take the first set 7-5, Yulia’s determination faded away, and Muguruza was able to dominate and win the second set and the match.
Muguruza herself has been saying that with each match her confidence has been improving. “It’s important that each match I’ve played here has not been easy. I went out there without fear. I wanted the match, and I had to dictate the game,” said Muguruza.
The match up between Mladenovic and Muguruza will probably be one of the best women’s matches for the whole tournament. Both of them are serious contenders for the title, they are both aggressive, and both of them gaining confidence and improving their games as the tournament continues. If Muguruza is able to keep her head and prevent too many errors she just may be able to win the match, especially since Maldenovic’s her serve is not clicking because of an injury.
Prediction: Muguruza in 3.
Kuznetsova vs. Wozniacki
Kuznetsova has made her way to the round of 16 this year at the French Open. Nobody ever pays much attention to this hardened veteran, and she has quietly made her way through her matches. In her last match she played Zhang Shuai. It was no easy match though. It took Kuznetsova three hours and and ten minutes before she was finally able to find the answer to the puzzle that was Zhang, and win the match 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5.
The first three games of the match took 24 minutes, and Zhang took the lead 3-1. However, Kuznetsova would then change the tide and make it 5-4. The first set was done in 82 minutes. From there on out the match was a myriad of power plays, with bullet like winners, and large errors. Kuznetsova was unable to convert two set points at 5-4 in the third, but after 5-5 Zhang seemed to have run out of energy and the will to win, and Kuznetsova would take the final set 7-5.
Caroline had beaten the 18 year old Cici in straight sets in Dubai this year and this time around in the third round it took Caroline three sets 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 to overcome Cici’s strong resistance across the net. Wozniacki seemed to have a tough time in the second set, losing after the pair resumed playing on Saturday. More than anything it seemed to be a mental lapse for Wozniacki, who was playing a player so much younger than her. In her post match interview Caroline said that “I think it’s important just to keep you head down and not think much honestly.”
At 2-2 in the third set, Wozniacki upped her game, and began to play more aggressively, using her experience and tactical knowledge to out play the youngster. Wozniacki however doesn’t seem to be playing her best tennis, and might be wanting for some more in her next match against Kuznetsova.
Wozniacki does happen to lead the head to head against Kuznetsova 7-6, but that is a very narrow margin, and Kuznetsova plays amazing on clay. Wozniacki seems to be having her own qualms about the next match as well.
“She obviously loves the clay,” says Wozniacki about Kuznetsova. “I would give a little but of the favoritism to her but at the same time I feel like I have been playing well.”
Prediction: Kuznetsova in 3.
As this round gets underway, watch out for some good tennis and the deserving players who will eventually be our French Open 2017 2nd week contenders.