🎾 Elena Rybakina vs. Julia Riera – French Open R1

WTA French Open

🎾 Elena Rybakina vs. Julia Riera – French Open R1 Preview

🧠 Form & Context

Elena Rybakina
🏆 Back in rhythm: Claimed the Strasbourg title last week with gritty wins over Haddad Maia and Samsonova—her first title since Stuttgart 2024.
📉 Prior inconsistency: Before Strasbourg, she had not won consecutive matches since March (Indian Wells), excluding BJK Cup play.
🇫🇷 French Open comfort: Holds a 5–1 record in R1 matches at Roland-Garros and has reached the quarterfinals twice (2021, 2024).
🔥 Big-match pedigree: Former Wimbledon champion, always dangerous in Slams when fit.
Julia Riera
🔄 Rebuilding phase: Was inside the top 100 a year ago but has now slipped outside the top 200.
🎯 Qualified strong: Won three straight matches without dropping a set to reach the main draw.
📉 Major struggles: 0–3 in Slam main draws and has never beaten a top-20 opponent in her career.
📍 Highlight of 2025: SF run in Bogotá (altitude clay), but little else to celebrate this year.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Elena Rybakina enters Paris fresh from a title, brimming with confidence and match fitness. Her baseline dominance, serve precision, and mental edge on big stages should overwhelm Riera, whose only real asset here is recent rhythm from qualifying. The Argentine’s lack of weapons, particularly on slower clay, will limit her ability to hurt Rybakina in extended rallies. Unless the Kazakh suffers a post-Strasbourg hangover or a physical lapse, this should be one-way traffic.

🔮 Prediction

Expect Rybakina to dictate play early and often, using her experience and clean hitting to keep Riera on the defensive. This should be a routine opener for the 2021 and 2024 RG quarterfinalist. 🧩 Prediction: Rybakina in straight sets, likely under 18.5 total games.