2026 Roland Garros Women's Round Two - Wednesday Matches 🐢

Svitolina vs Quevedo :

Great result for Quevedo to win a match in her first Roland Garros. The qualifying run and this are just the beginning, and while this is the end of the road, these are the matches that young players need to get an idea of the level that wins big titles on tour. Quevedo has a tremendous future if I’m right, but her early troubles have been a few too many unforced errors trying to play aggressive tennis. That’s a problem against Svitolina who is defending tremendously and playing fairly solid offense also. Quevedo’s solid mechanics should let her compete well here, but Svitolina hits a bit bigger and I think her serving is more dangerous also. Svitolina in 2.

Korpatsch vs Wang :

Wang pulled off a good win against Tagger in round one. Usually she loses to unforced errors, and she’s a huge hitter so when she’s rushed the ball can spray wildly. Once she wins a match though, I generally stop doubting her timing. Korpatsch is a great defender and in good form, but Wang is actually 3-0 against her, including a lopsided 2,1 win at the most recent Olympics. Wang in 2. This feels like it should be close since Korpatsch is the type of player who makes Wang play the extra ball but I have a hard time ignoring the h2h.

Snigur vs Stearns :

Snigur was down a set and a break but admirably she kept playing her same game. I saw her hit a few short angles then a very tricky dropshot (to the same side she had just sent Tauson to) in the second on a break point, and while it wasn’t match point or anything, it showed that she was still looking to wear Clara down and looking for cracks in the armor. Eventually those cracks showed, and Snigur got an unlikely but impressive comeback win. Snigur will be a tough out for Stearns, but I suspect the Tauson win was largely about conditioning. Stearns has a much worse backhand than Tauson, but she moves very well and that’s essential since Snigur moves the ball so craftily. Running down dropshots is job A, and dealing with the flat forehand is job B. I’m digging through her match history to find another flat hitter to see how she did, but honestly not many of them exist on tour so it will be interesting to watch this. I’m expecting a pretty close contest because Stearns hasn’t really been dominant on tour recently, but I think Stearns will be the stronger player in the third. Stearns in 3.

McNally vs Bencic :

Sheesh. No reward for McNally here. Round one was one of her best wins on tour. Tomljanovic is not ranked high right now, but she was playing incredibly well in round one. McNally had to fight off multiple heavy shots every rally, and was down a set and down a break several times in the second. In the end, she won a tense tiebreaker and a lopsided third. Bencic is probably not the matchup she wants here. McNally has a great forehand and wins on consistency, but Bencic can match her in that department. Belinda also has a much more effective backhand, and her taking the ball early will apply the same sort of pressure that Tomljanovic was able to create. This could go to a third if McNally gets off to a quick start, as Bencic often takes time to feel out her opponent, but Bencic probably wins most of the backhand exchanges and her serving is a little better than McNally’s also. Bencic in 2-3.

Kostyuk vs Volynets :

I told my silly “SHE WAS PLAYING WELL LAST YEAR TOO!” story about Kostyuk, but we can rest easy now as she was good in the first round. Volynets beat her on hardcourt in their one previous meeting, but there are many different Kostyuks so some losses can be discounted. Clay gives her more time to set up and her power can bother Volynets a little more on average because she’ll be able to get the benefit of more bad bounces. This is one where Volynets can make Kostyuk play for an hour and a half, but I think she’ll have a hard time holding serve. Kostyuk in 2.

Golubic vs Parks :

Parks won their previous meeting in a long 3 set match in Hobart, and this is likely to be a lengthy one as well. Golubic is playing lights out right now, and had a surprisingly easy time with Udvardy. Her baselining is solid enough to earn the errors that Parks can sometimes offer, and that’s a big key because it seems like Alycia is playing her best here. She managed to beat Fernandez in two, and that’s a really impressive win. Parks crushes the ball when she’s playing well, and her serve is very good. I think she’ll have an easier time holding serve, but the challenge here is to maintain focus during rallies and pick her offensive spots well. Golubic is good at going down the line and will keep Parks deep in the court, so I think she’ll win a set where she’s just too solid, and Parks will eventually be able to win the match behind her serving because it allows her to get inside the court. This is a scary one because Golubic just beat a great player, and went three with Krejcikova, but Parks in 3.

Ostapenko vs Linette :

Linette’s been struggling a bit to find wins but managed to outlast Valentova. This round is another spot where she’ll need to outlast a big offense, but working slightly in her favor is Ostapenko’s roller coaster form from round one. Jelena had issue serving, sprayed errors, and genuinely won because she stuck with it and eventually found some good patches of play. If she brings that level into this match, it could be a short day. Linette won their only meeting on clay in Rome in straights, but that was in 2020. A lot of these matches seem like they’re close, and I think it would be very easy for a set to slip away from Ostapenko here. Ostapenko in 2-3, if only because we want to see the Swiatek matchup.

Bejlek vs Swiatek :

Iga has lost some of her aura, but remains one of the top contenders for this event. The draw is very balanced and very deep with talent, and in some ways I think that’s good for her. She needs to win tough matches in order to regain her best level, and to be prepared for big challenges. Bejlek should be a fun opponent, but I think her method of victory is usually staunch defending and good accuracy. Those are tough to win behind against Swiatek, because she moves the ball well off both wings and is an excellent mover. Swiatek in 2.

Andreeva vs Bassols :

Bassols had a rough one against Arango, but she managed to hit her way through and set up this difficult spot. Andreeva defends extremely well, and is one of the second tier threats to win tournaments these days. The bright point for Bassols this event has been her ability to take the ball down the line. She’s been able to send the ball wide (that slightly flat inside out technique) off both wings and it’s really useful. Andreeva’s coach will have scouted that tendency hopefully, but if not this could be close for a spell. I still think Andreeva wins in a comfortable two, but Bassols starts off very well so the first set could be good.

Jones vs Bouzkova :

It took a long time, but Jones made Haddad Maia revert to her move error prone form. I don’t actually hate her chances here, but I think she’ll have to do a ton of work with her forehand to get through. Bouzkova has gone to almost complete pushing these days, but on clay it works in most matches. She’s quick, has a very repeatable backhand, and her forehand technique is deteriorating lately but she focuses well on it and keeps it in the court. Jones’ forehand is big enough to score, but I think a whole match is out of the question. Bouzkova in 2 close sets.

Teichmann vs Frech :

Frech has been aboard the struggle bus, but managed to get a good spot in the draw and outlasted Ruse. Ruse ended up having to retire after losing a close first set, and I honestly missed this match completely so I have a hard time calling this. Even if I had, the tennis these two play make it tricky. Teichmann has a solid forehand, but tends to play long matches. Frech is a little past her prime, but her backhand is extremely solid (which negates some of the lefty attack) and she’s one of the better defensive baseliners at times. Teichmann can beat the average Frech, but Magdalena won’t give her the same volume of errors that Samsonova did in round one (40+). I don’t see an easy way for either of them to score here. Someone in 3?

Rakhimova vs Muchova :

Cristian was 6/16 on break points in her three set loss to Rakhimova, and it was another exciting marathon for her. She’s been incredibly clutch lately so it’s understandable for her to finally lose one, and it’s a win that Rakhimova really needed. A win at a major represents such a breath of air for players ranked outside the top 75. It doesn’t mean you stay on tour, but it basically pays their expenses for most of the year and this lets them play a bit freer and take more risks.

Muchova probably is the end of the road for Rakhimova. Zakharova made early inroads with her lights-out relentless offensive play, but Kamila doesn’t really bring the same danger. Muchova in 2.

Paolini vs Sierra :

Every tournament I wind up fading the same person multiple round and feeling stupid, especially since eventually it winds up making sense. For that reason, I am hesitant to doubt Paolini here. Paolini managed to outlast Yastremska so she’s playing decent, but this has been a real bad year for her. She hasn’t been able to consistently play defense, and since she doesn’t serve big at all, this gives opponents chances to control rallies and score. Sierra doesn’t have the raw firepower that Yastremska does, but she’s more consistent and is one of the better unsung prospects on tour. She hits hard off both wings, and her clay background is legit. If you tell me this match goes 7-5, 5-7, 7-5, I’d say yes. These two can both be very solid from the baseline, and obviously Paolini’s ceiling is higher, but they’re trending in opposite directions. I expect Sierra to win the first set, but lose the match.

Lys vs Cirstea :

Eva Lys winning against Marcinko isn’t so surprising, but the lopsided scores were. It’s a good win for her, and it sets up another match against a solid offense in Sorana Cirstea. Lys beat Cirstea once on hardcourt and lost in 3 at the AO earlier this year, so I don’t expect it to be simple. Lys has a good backhand and trades well from the baseline; the problem here is that Cirstea’s power and serving give her the ability to score on clay where most can’t, and the slower surface also affords her more time on defense. Could wind up being close here, but Cirstea in 2-3.

Baptiste vs Wang Xiyu :

These two met on clay in Charleston in 2023, and Baptiste won 3,3. Fast forward a few years and Baptiste is playing her best tennis ever. She just beat Krejcikova in a very close match (almost lost the second set tb), and while that’s pretty lucky, I liked her level through most of that match. Wang is playing really sharp and hasn’t dropped a set, so oddly I think this can wind up in overtime also. Wang is a tall lefty player with a heavy forehand, and Baptiste can leave the ball short in the court often. She tends to chip and slice returns, and while she’s great at hitting passes on the run, it may allow Wang to hang onto her serve more often than expected. Baptiste in 2-3.

Rybakina vs Starodubtseva :

Starodubtseva has a really good level of baseline hitting, so this should be fun while it lasts. Rybakina’s serve makes her a threat to win titles even on clay, and her mechanics are incredibly solid at times. The heat is something I think may bother her a little, but not in this round. Rybakina in 2.