Caroline Garcia vs Jasmine Paolini Prediction & Betting Tips - Lyon, France, Qualifying

Prediction published on 02/02/2023, 17:32  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 02/02/2023 at 18:32 in Tennis Predictions

Caroline Garcia is the top seed in the Lyon Open and takes on unseeded Jasmine Paoilini in the last eight. Garcia had a topsy turvy match in the second round of this tournament. The French player dropped the first set to unseeded Alison Van Uytvanck losing it 6-2. However, there was to be no shock and Garcia rattled through the next two sets losing just one game. The first round had been easier with a straight sets win over Teresa Martincova. Garcia is ranked fifth in the world and can't climb any higher even if winning the Lyon Open title. In the Live WTA Race (based on points earned this year), Garcia is tenth and a win here will see her rise to eighth position. The 29-year-old has won all three of her previous matches against Paolini. Two were played last year and Paolini has never won more than five games in a match against Garcia.

Jasmine Paolini was ranked as high as 44th in February of last year. This event began with her in 66th place but is up to 63rd in the live rankings. Knocking out the top seed will see her rise to 58th. This year has seen the Italian get off to a slow start in her first three tournaments. Only one match out of four was won and that was over world number 790 Patricia Maria Tig. The Australian Open saw her lose in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova. This week has gone better with two wins over quaifiers. Up against an opponent who she's had little success against, it's Garcia who can win this in straight sets to set up a semi-final against either Camila Osorio or rising star Linda Noskova.