The third round wraps up on Day 7 of the French Open, and we will be treated to eight women’s singles matches that will finalize the Round of 16. As always, our team here at LWOT will share their thoughts on all of the matches. We split the eight matches between two articles, with the other one featuring Aryna Sabalenka vs Daria Kasatkina. Predicting these matches are Tope Oke, Ilemona Onekutu, and Amanda Bergman. Who do you think will win?
French Open Day 7 Predictions
Diana Shnaider vs Oleksandra Oliynykova
Tope:
22-year-old Russian Diana Shnaider has the left-handed firepower to hurt anyone on clay and has looked sharp through her first two rounds. Oleksandra Oliynykova, in contrast, has earned every ball of her first Grand Slam main-draw run and the Ukrainian, will be playing in her first Grand Slam third round. Oliynykova has already shown she can close tight matches and will not wilt on the big stage and I feel she will have the right motivation to want to win this one.
Prediction: Oliynykova in 3
Ilemona:
Diana Shnaider was dominant in her third-round win over Kessler, winning in straight sets after a competitive first set. Oleksandra Oliynykova came through a tense three-set battle against Birrell. Shnaider’s power and current form make her a difficult opponent for anyone in this draw, and Oliynykova’s difficult path here means she arrives less fresh. Shnaider’s superior quality and momentum should see her through.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Amanda:
It wasn’t an easy second round for Oleksandra Oliynykova as she came through a third-set tiebreak after a tumultuous match, but she pulled through nonetheless. However, this season Diana Shnaider has rarely lost matches where she’s the heavy favorite and should be able to neutralize Oliynykova’s unconventional style with her own crafty way of playing.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Coco Gauff vs Anastasia Potapova
Tope:
Coco Gauff keeps rolling as she defends her crown, but her straight-sets win over Mayar Sherif was anything but straightforward, and she’ll need sharper execution when she meets in-form 28th seed Anastasia Potapova for a fifth career clash. With their head-to-head locked at 2-2, this shapes up as a real test of the American’s title defense. Expect Gauff’s resilience to keep her in it, but Potapova’s aggressive rhythm and recent clay pedigree make her a strong candidate to steal at least a set in what could turn into a tense battle.
Prediction: Potapova in 3
Ilemona:
Coco Gauff was sharp in her win over Sherif, looking every bit a defending champion in control of her game. Anastasia Potapova needed three sets to get past Boulter, dropping the first before recovering. Gauff’s movement, consistency and ability to dictate on clay are at a different level. The defending champion should not be troubled here.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Amanda:
Anastasia Potapova is possibly playing the best tennis of her life right now, but that’ll be tested against defending champion Coco Gauff, who won her first two matches in straight sets. Potapova is the best opponent Gauff has faced yet and can deliver a challenge, especially considering Potapova has won their last two matches including a meeting on clay. Gauff will likely continue her title defense campaign, but Potapova isn’t an easy out.
Prediction: Gauff in 3
Maria Sakkari vs Maja Chwalinska
Tope:
Maja Chwalińska arrives at the third round on the back of arguably the hottest run in Paris, projecting her to crack the Top 100 for the first time in her career by Sunday evening. Her opponent, Maria Sakkari, is a former world #3 who has seemed to rediscover her best tennis this fortnight. Their one previous meeting, in Rome 2025, went to Sakkari, but that Chwalińska is a different player now and this surface, this momentum, and this crowd-neutral atmosphere suit her deep-spinning baseline game far more than it suits a Sakkari, who still plays best when the pace is quick and the points are short.
Prediction: Chwalinska in 3
Ilemona:
Maja Chwalinska has been one of the most impressive unseeded players in the draw, beating both Zheng Qinwen and Elise Mertens to reach this stage. Maria Sakkari had to fight through three sets against Liu to advance, and her form has been inconsistent this season. Chwalinska’s confidence and quality over the past two rounds make her a genuine threat, and this is a much harder match for Sakkari than the seedings suggest. Chwalinska’s momentum and level are too strong to ignore.
Prediction: Chwalinska in 3
Amanda:
Maja Chwalinska hasn’t dropped a set all tournament–including qualifying–but an unexpectedly resurgent Maria Sakkari could put an end to that. Sakkari notched a first-round upset over Linda Noskova and managed to back it up, shaping up to be one of her best Grand Slam runs in quite some time. Chwalinska has shown this week that she shouldn’t be underestimated, but if Sakkari can keep up her level then ultimately she will be the better player.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Naomi Osaka vs Iva Jovic
Tope:
Naomi Osaka has looked composed through the opening two rounds and produced a high-level performance to dismiss Donna Vekic, but clay has never been her most natural surface and facing Iva Jovic will be the toughest test of her Roland-Garros campaign so far. Osaka’s experience could prove decisive in the big moments, but Jovic’s momentum and ceiling make her a very dangerous pick to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Jovic in 3
Ilemona:
Iva Jovic has been one of the stories of the tournament, cruising past Emma Navarro 6-0 6-3 in an extraordinary display of dominance against a seeded opponent. Naomi Osaka edged also Vekic in straight sets but it was a tighter outing that required more effort. Jovic’s clay-court game with heavy topspin, excellent movement, and aggressive intent has looked exceptional this fortnight. Osaka’s power is a factor, but Jovic’s momentum and level are hard to argue against right now.
Prediction: Jovic in 3
Amanda:
Both Iva Jovic and Naomi Osaka have defeated quality players in straight sets en route to the third round and are looking even form-wise heading into this match. A win here would give Osaka her best-ever French Open showing with a fourth round run, but Jovic has been steady all season long and has constantly been on the verge of statement wins, which she has the chance to take here.
Prediction: Jovic in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
