Barbora Krejcikova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA French Open

Prediction published on 11/06/2021, 09:03  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 11/06/2021 at 10:04 in Tennis Predictions

There probably weren't even odds available on Barbora Krejcikova facing Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in this year's French Open. Neither player began this tournament in the top 30 rankings. Pavlyuchenkova is the world number 32 (seeded 31st after Simona Halep's withdrawal) and her opponent ranked 33rd, just a single place below her opponent. Pavlyuchenkova has been playing this tournament since 2008. In 2011 the last eight was reached and she was the world number 13. Since then, the Russian has reached the last eight in other Grand Slams but has never made it past that stage until this year.  As a result of making this final, Pavlyuchenkova will rise to 18th and to 14th if becoming the Roland Garros champion. This run to the final follows a semi-final on clay in Madrid with wins over four top 25 ranked players. This tournament has seen her defeat Aryna Sabalenka (getting revenge for her Madrid loss), Victoria Azarenka, Elena Rybanka (all seeded) and in the semi-final, unseeded Tamara Zidansek.

It's the best weekend ever for Barbora Krejcikova. Not only is she in the women's singles final but the women's doubles too. The Czech is a former women's double champion at Roland Garros but this year has been making her name in the singles division. Last September, Krejcikova had a singles ranking of 118 but her live ranking is 118th and winning the French Open title will see her up to 15th. In terms of points earned this calendar year, the Czech is third and will be second if beating Pavlyuchenkova. Krejcikova won the clay court tournament held in Strasbourg and got to the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Her run to the Roland Garros final has included wins over Elina Svitolina, Coco Gauff and in a three-hour plus semi-final on Thursday, Maria Sakkari. This is her first match between these two players and it could well be a close one. It's hard to choose between them but slight preference is for the more experienced and less busy Pavyluchenkova.