Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Roland Garros match.
For Paula Badosa, this year’s Roland Garros offers a real chance to re-establish herself on the WTA Tour. She has already passed a significant early test by defeating Naomi Osaka (49) in a confident three-set battle. Up next is Elena Gabriela Ruse, a far less imposing opponent. These are exactly the type of matches Badosa needs to win with authority if she’s to reach at least the round of 16. Anything short of that would make any talk of a return to the top tier seem premature.
Elena Gabriela Ruse
Elena Gabriela Ruse earned her first Grand Slam main draw victory in some time, but Elena Gabriela Ruse’s display against McCartney Kessler left plenty to be desired: six double faults, 42 unforced errors, and a first-serve percentage of just 52%. Historically, she has rarely advanced to the third round at majors—she has done so only once in her career. In 2025, Ruse claimed victory in 17 of her 25 matches, but she has failed to win any of her three contests against WTA top-20 opponents.
Paula Badosa
Paula Badosa is currently playing with poise and maturity, routinely dispatching players ranked outside the top 50. She has won 18 of her last 20 matches against opponents outside that bracket. In the first round of Roland Garros, Badosa overcame Naomi Osaka (6:7, 6:1, 6:4). Although her start was uncertain, she quickly took control, adopting an aggressive game plan that included four aces and just 27 unforced errors. Badosa and Ruse are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head record, but the Spanish player won their most recent match, at the US Open last year.
Elena Gabriela Ruse vs Paula Badosa Prediction
Technically and mentally, Paula Badosa holds a distinct edge here. Elena Gabriela Ruse lacks the weapons to compete effectively at this level. The expectation is that Badosa will win by a margin of at least four games.
