Kristyna Pliskova vs Serena Williams Tennis Prediction

It will be a challenge for the 23-time slam champion not to let lack of match-play get the better of her. Williams is considered the favorite, but there’s still a fair chance of Pliskova pulling off a win as they meet for the first time.

Serena Williams News

Three-time French Open champion Serena Williams arrives at Paris to play her first clay tournament since 2016, making this her 17th appearance at the slam. She won the Suzanne Lenglen trophy in 2002, 2013 and 2015, owning the record for the longest span between French Open titles in Open Era.
Williams returned to the tour from her maternity leave in March to play Indian Wells (third round, l. V. Williams) and Miami (first round, l. Osaka). The American has a 65-1 record in slam first round matches, with the lone loss coming to Razzano at 2012 French Open.

Kristyna Pliskova News

Kristyna Pliskova has never progressed beyond the first round of the French Open in her three previous visits, in 2013 (l. Duque-Marino), 2016 (l. Pereira, losing 9-7 in the third set after being two away from the win) and 2017 (l. local wildcard Paquet).
Pliskova has posted her best clay season this year, in terms of the number of matches won (11). This includes three quarterfinal runs at Charleston (d. Kvitova), Prague (d. Q. Wang, Sasnovich) and Nuremberg (d. Goerges). Moreover, she has also registered a third round at Madrid, losing to Halep.

Tennis Prediction: Serena Williams
Odds: 1.53