WTA French Open – Elena Rybakina vs Iva Jovic

WTA French Open – Elena Rybakina vs Iva Jovic

🧠 Form & Context

Elena Rybakina
🏆 Fresh from Title: Captured the Strasbourg WTA 500 crown just days ago, defeating top-tier clay players like Samsonova and Haddad Maia en route.
😤 Shaky Opener: Needed three sets to get past Julia Riera in R1, showing signs of fatigue and inconsistency (more errors than winners).
🎯 Reliable at RG: Reached the 3rd round or better in each of her last four appearances in Paris.
🔥 All-Court Threat: Though best known for fast surfaces, her recent clay title proves she can grind when needed.

Iva Jovic
⏳ 17-Year-Old Talent: One of the tour’s rising stars, she’s already reached R2 in all three Grand Slams she’s played.
😰 Marathon Match: Spent three hours on court fending off Renata Zarazua after nearly collapsing from a 5-2, 3 match point lead in the second set.
💡 Still Learning: Her clay-court tools are developing, but she lacks consistency—particularly on serve, as shown by 19 total breaks in her last match.
🚧 Top-30 Barrier: Currently 0-3 vs. top-30 players in career matches, including a 6-0, 6-3 loss to Rybakina at the Australian Open earlier this year.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Elena Rybakina is clearly not in peak energy after a deep Strasbourg run, but she remains one of the few WTA players who can control the baseline regardless of surface. Her booming serve and precise shotmaking allow her to dictate points, even on slow clay. If she minimizes unforced errors and avoids passive stretches, this should be relatively straightforward.

Iva Jovic has great tenacity and promise, but her game still lacks the firepower to stand up to an elite player like Rybakina, especially from the back of the court. Mentally, her near-collapse in R1 also suggests fragility in high-pressure situations—something Rybakina can exploit early.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Rybakina in 2 sets – Potentially tight early, but likely a strong finish.