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It’s the second lot of Women’s Quarter Finals today at the French Open, Roland Garros, and today we preview the match between the French world number 27, Caroline Garcia and the Czech world number 3, Karolina Pliskova.
Previous Meetings:
Their head to head record currently stands at two a piece, with Garcia winning their only previous meeting on clay in Madrid back in 2015. They have met this year, back in February on the hard courts of Doha, Qatar, Pliskova was the victor that day in straight sets 7-5 6-4. It is also worth noting that three of their four previous matches have gone to three sets, so don’t be surprised to see today’s encounter be very tightly contest and potentially go the distance also.
French Open Results So Far…
I don’t think it’s unfair to say that Garcia has had a fairly kind draw, i think this is backed up by her only dropping the one set so far. She beat Nao Hibino 6-2 6-2 in Round 1 and then fellow Frenchie, Chloe Paquet 7-5 6-4 in Round 2. It was Round 3 that has been Garcia’s biggest challenge of the tournament so far, she faced Su-Wei Hsieh, and despite winning the first set 6-4, dropped the second by the same scoreline. The third set was a nervy and turbulent affair but despite being a break of serve down twice and being broken three times in total, the home favourite found a way to win it 9-7. In the last Round she played her second fellow country-woman of the tournament, Alize Cornet. Garcia was in fine form throughout, and advanced with relative ease, 6-2 6-4.
Pliskova has had a slightly less straight forward passage through, but she’s started to dispel some theories that she can’t play on this surface. In Round 1 she defeated Saisai Zhang 7-5 6-2, the Czech followed this up with a hard fought three set victory in Round 2 against Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2 4-6 6-3. Pliskova’s best performance of the fortnight came in Round 3 where she beat the dangerous German, Carina Witthoeft in straight sets 7-5 6-1. Pliskova served and returned well throughout the match and ended up breaking Witthoeft six times on her way to victory. In the last Round Pliskova had to dig deep and come from a set down against Veronica Cepede. Having dropped the opening set 2-6, the Czech won the next 6-3, before a decisive break of serve in the ninth game of the final set proved the difference, and Pliskova served it out 6-4.
Serving Stats:
Garcia this tournament has won 61% of her service points and held serve 63% of the time. These compare to her recent clay court mean numbers of 61% service points won and 71% service hold. Pliskova isn’t hyper-aggressive off the return, so i don’t see Garcia having a whole host of issues on serve. She will need to remain consistent though, as a drop in these numbers could see Pliskova capitalise.
Pliskova this tournament has won 62% of his service points and held serve 77% of the time. These compare to his recent clay court mean numbers of 61% service points won and 76% service hold. Pliskova’s serve is a weapon, we know that, and it’s been on good form over the past fortnight. Garcia will go after the second serve, given the opportunity though, so a high first serve % will be key for the Czech today.
Returning Stats:
Garcia this tournament has won 48% of her return points, 64% of her break points and opponents have held serve a mere 41% of the time against her. These compare to her recent clay court mean numbers of, 42% return points won, 47% break points won and 64% opposition hold. Garcia’s return of serve has probably been her biggest strength this week. If she keeps these numbers up today, she can hurt Pliskova and put some real pressure on in the Czech’s service games.
Pliskova this tournament has won 44% of her return points, 67% of her break points and her opponents have held serve 56% of the time. These compare to her recent clay court mean numbers of 41% return points won, 43% break points won and 68% opposition hold. Pliskova has also been returning well in this tournament, and her break point conversion % will need to remain high today. Expect the Czech to get plenty of balls back in play off the return, and if Garcia’s serve isn’t firing she could well create a few opportunities to break.
Groundstrokes:
Both women will look to attack off the ground. Garcia has been very aggressive throughout this tournament, and is hitting the ball clean and very hard, especially off the forehand wing. If Pliskova’s forehand is finding it’s spots today Garcia will need to defend well in order to remain competitive, something she’s at times struggled with.
Summary:
A tough one to call this, Pliskova on paper should win, however she will need to be consistent throughout and ensure that she doesn’t have any lapses in concentration, something she is prone to. If she does, then Garcia, cheered on by the home crowd will capitalise and the Frenchie most certainly has the weapons to win this. Three sets would not surprise me here, nor would Garcia making a fast start and possibly taking the first.
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