Elena Rybakina vs Linda Noskova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA French Open

Prediction published on 31/05/2023, 05:46  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 31/05/2023 at 06:50 in Tennis Predictions

Fourth seeded Elena Rybakina takes on unseeded Linda Novoska in the Roland Garros second round. The winner of this match faces a last 32 match against either Sara Sorribes Tormo or Petra Martic. Rybakina is currently up to third in the live world rankings and already won two tournaments in 2023. Both of those title victories came in WTA 1000 events, firstly at Indian Wels and then on clay in Rome. The latter was a strange tournament for her with three matches being won when her opponent retired. That included world number one Iga Swiatek in the third set of their quarter final. Before that title win, Rybakina had only won one of her three matches on clay, retiring herself in one of the losses. Rybakina reached the lquarter finalst at Roland Garros in 2021 but lost in round three last year. The first round of this year's French Open saw her get a straight sets win over qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova.

Linda Novoska began this Grand Slam ranked 50th in the world. Her first round win over Danka Kovinic has taken her up to 46tth in the live rankings. The Czech won the first set 6-3 against Kovinic, who then retired in the second when 2-1 down. Novoska has been climbing the rankings this year. The 18-year-old began 2023 ranked 102nd in the world. Her live ranking is a new career high beating her previous best of 48th. Highlights have included getting to the final of the first Adelaide International event and the last eight in Lyon. It hadn't gone quite so well on clay for her until getting to the quarter finals of the WTA 125 event held in Paris but no top 100 ranked players were beaten. Novoska does have talent on this surface though as two years ago she won the Junior title at Roland Garros. Last year saw her in the senior event and Novoska lost in the first round. This is her first match against Rybakina and we tip the fourth seed to win in straight sets.