Caroline Garcia vs Alison Van Uytvanck Prediction & Betting Tips - Lyon, France, Qualifying

Prediction published on 01/02/2023, 12:59  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 01/02/2023 at 15:57 in Tennis Predictions

Top seeded Carolina Garcia takes on unseeded Alison Van Uytvanck in the second round of the Lyon Open. The winner of this match will face either unseeded Jasmine Paolini or qualifier Erika Andreeva in the quarter finals. The French player got 2023 off to a good start winning both of her matches in the United Cup. Her first singles tournament of the new year saw her get to the quarter finals of the first Adelaide International tournament, losing in three sets to Belinda Bencic. Three matches were won in the Australian Open for the loss of just one set but then Garcia lost to unseeded Magda Linette in the last 16. That saw her drop a place in the world rankings. Garcia is the world number five and will stay in that position even if winning this hard court title. In the first round of this tournament, Garcia beat Teresa Martincova in straight sets.

Van Uytvanck was the seventh seed in last year's Lyon Open.and ranked 55th. This week began with her in 76th but the Belgian is up a place in the live rankings and a win here could see her rise to 69th. Van Uytvanck also began the year with two wins out of two in the United Cup but against players ranked well below her. While Garcia lost to Magda Linette in the Australian Open, Van Uytvanck beat the Pole in the Hobart Classic where she reached the last 16. The Belgian didn't get past round one of the Australian Open, losing to the 15th seed Petra Kvitova. No first round exit in Lyon though with a win over Tamara Korpatch for the loss of only six games. This is her fourth match against Garciia and she's 2-1 down. The last two meetings have  both been in the quarter final of this tournament in 2021 and 2022. Van Uytvanck won in 2020 but last year, Garcia got the win after coming from a set down. Garcia has gone up a level since then and can win this match in straight sets.