Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Roland Garros match.
Barbora Krejcikova has finally recorded her first win of the season, but her current level of play casts serious doubts over her chances of making a deep run at Roland Garros. In the second round, she faces a stern test in Veronika Kudermetova, who holds the edge in their head-to-head record and defeated Krejcikova on clay last season.
Barbora Krejcikova
After a six-month absence from competition, Barbora Krejcikova suffered a first-round elimination in Strasbourg and only just managed to get past Tatjana Maria in Paris (7:6, 6:3). Despite hitting 44 winners, she also produced 31 unforced errors and struggled on her first serve — landing 68% but winning just 63% of those points. Even more concerning, she has recorded at least four double faults in three of her last five matches — a worrying statistic ahead of facing a hard-hitting opponent.
Veronika Kudermetova
Veronika Kudermetova, on the other hand, delivered a confident performance against Viktoriya Tomova, winning 7:5, 6:1. After a tightly contested first set, she took control of the match, converting 74% of her break points — a decisive factor in her victory. Signs of renewed belief are evident in her game. Her serve is again becoming a key asset: she has hit five or more aces in three of her last five outings. Kudermetova also leads their head-to-head 3:2, including a recent win on clay in Stuttgart earlier this year.
Barbora Krejcikova vs Veronika Kudermetova Prediction
Veronika Kudermetova looks calmer and more mentally resilient than her opponent. Given Barbora Krejcikova’s limited match preparation, her run in Paris is likely to end in the second round.
