Varvara Gracheva vs Elise Mertens Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA French Open

Prediction published on 26/05/2022, 14:49  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/05/2022 at 16:13 in Tennis Predictions

31st seeded Elise Mertens bids to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros for only the second time. Attempting to stop her will be unseeded Vavara Gracheva who is in the third round for the second successive year. The winner of this match faces either 18th seeded Coco Gauff or Kaia Kanepi in the last 16. Mertens is the world number 32 but the Belgian is up to 29th in the live rankings. It's not been the greatest of years for Mertens with only quarter finals reached in St Petersburg and on clay in Strasbourg where she lost to the world number 81. Mertens has only played one match so far this year at Roland Garros. The first round saw her defeat Elena-Gabriela Ruse for the loss of only four games, Her scheduled second round opponent Maria Bouzhkova then withdrew giving Mertens this place in the last 32.

Vavara Gracheva began this tournament as the world number 71 which is one place below her career high. That will be beaten in the next list though as the Russian is up to 67th and can get into the top 60 with a win over Mertens. Gracheva made a nightmare start to 2022 losing to Sorana Cirstea in Melbourne without winning a single game. Then a first round exit at the Australian Open followed as she lost in straight sets to qualifier Lucia Bronzetti. Gracheva finally got some wins in the qualifying rounds in St Petersburg but lost to Elena Rybakina in the first round. Better form was shown in Dubai with a win over Ajla Tomljanovic but then won only two games against Marketa Vondrousova. Last year saw her get to the third round at Roland Garros but it's been tough getting to that stage this week. The first round saw her beat Astra Sharma after losing the first set. Another win over Tomljanovic was earned in the second round, again in three sets. Mertens has had the benefit of that break due to the second round walkover, back her to get the win here.