Magdalena Frech vs Angelique Kerber 5/23/22 French Open Tennis Picks, Predictions, Odds

Angelique Kerber and Magdalena Frech meet in the first round of the 2022 tennis French Open.

Angelique Kerber has had a rough 2022, but she’s fresh off a Internationaux de Strasbourg title, and that could be the turning point for the former No. 1 player in the world. Before Strasbourg, Kerber was riding a six-match losing streak and struggling with her return. However, Kerber’s recent play gives the German some new-found confidence that she can compete in easily her least favorite grand slam. Kerber has lost in the first round in five of her last 10 grand slam appearances. Kerber has lost in the first round of the French Open in her last three tries. Kerber has won six of her last 10 matches on clay court.

Magdalena Frech has spent the last month in challenger play, as this will be her first main tour match since Charleston about a month and a half ago. Frech has had a real spotty season up to this point with nothing that really stands out, and she’s making a rare grand slam appearance. At 24 years old, Frech is making just her third grand slam appearance since 2019. Frech has lost in the first round in three of her four career grand slam appearances. Frech’s only grand slam victory came in the 2018 French Open. Frech has won five of her last seven matches on clay court.

There’s no match history between these two players.

Kerber hasn’t been the same player she was a few years ago, and the French Open is comfortably her least successful grand slam. However, Kerber’s recent efforts provides a glimmer of hope that she’s turning things around and could be a dangerous out. Frech has struggled to get out of her own way this year, and she has no big match experience or success that suggests she’s up to the task here.

Expect the German to advance to the second round of the French Open for the first time since 2018.