The draw for the women’s and men’s singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics has been set. On the women’s side, French Open champion Iga Swiatek (Poland) will battle Irina-Camelia Begu (Romania) in the opening round, while Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejciova (Czech Republic) is set to start her campaign against Sara Sorribes Tormo (Spain). There are several other terrific first-round women’s matchups. This article lists the five contests that stand out the most. We also have a separate article looking at the five best men’s matches.
The Five Best Women’s First-Round Matches At Paris Olympics
5. Diana Shnaider (Individual Neutral Athletes) vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto (Italy)
Head-to-head: Cocciaretto 3-0 Shnaider
These two have both shown their ability on clay this season. Cocciaretto had an impressive run to the fourth round of this year’s French Open. Shnaider won the tournament in Budapest last week, which was her third title of 2024. Both players also possess aggressive styles and are capable of great shotmaking when their games are flowing. Shnaider will have to overcome the mental obstacle of her 0-3 head-to-head record against the Italian, which includes two matches this season.
4. Mirra Andreeva (Individual Neutral Athletes) vs Magda Linette (Poland)
Head-to-head: Andreeva 1-0 Linette
This is a fascinating first-round clash between two in-form players heading into the Paris Olympics. Andreeva made her first WTA Tour final this week in Iasi, while Linette progressed to her second clay-court final of the season in Prague, having been the runner-up to 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens in Rouen in April. There are similarities in the playing styles of these two, with both being great movers and possessing impressive backhands. Andreeva has slightly more firepower and she will try and make that advantage count in this matchup.
3. Caroline Garcia (France) vs Jaqueline Cristian (Romania)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Garcia had been set to face Qinwen Zheng in the first-round, and Cristian was initially drawn against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Ryabkina. However, the draw changed after Rybakina became one of the women’s players to withdraw from the Paris Olympics. On paper, both players will be happier with this matchup, but this still promises to be a very entertaining contest. Garcia possesses one of the most powerful games on the WTA Tour, while Cristian has one of the most powerful forehands. The Romanian has already beaten Emma Navarro and Barbora Krejcikova on clay this year, meaning Garcia will need her home fans to help her here.
2. Karolina Muchova (Czech Republic) vs Leylah Fernandez (Canada)
Head-to-head: Muchova 1-0 Fernandez
The 2023 French Open runner-up Karolina Muchova returned from nearly a year out with a wrist injury that required surgery. during the grass-court season. She has found her feet impressively and was the runner-up to Zheng in Palermo. Fernandez did not have the best clay-court season, but she is still a former quarterfinalist at Roland-Garros. This promises to be a very fun battle between two former major finalists. Muchova will hope that her trickery and variety are enough to overcome Fernandez’s athleticism and intensity.
1. Naomi Osaka (Japan) vs Angelique Kerber (Germany)
Head-to-head: Kerber 4-2 Osaka
This could be Kerber’s final match after the three-time Grand Slam champion announced she would retire after the Games. The German won a Silver Medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Extending her career in the first-round against Osaka is a tough ask. Although clay is not the three-time Major winner’s favorite surface, the Japanese star showed what she is capable of when she nearly defeated Iga Swiatek at this year’s French Open. Kerber can take encouragement from her positive head-to-head record against Osaka, although this will be their first meeting on clay. Hopefully, Kerber can produce some of her old magic in Paris. She deserves to go out on a high after her outstanding career.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
