2017 is starting off, as always, with a Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne. Our Panelists will be here every day to pick some of the best matches and tell you who will win. Today’s panelists are myself (Yesh Ginsburg), editor Steen Kirby, and writers Jeff Crady and John Lupo.
Panelists Predictions Australian Open Women’s Day 1
Coco Vandeweghe vs Roberta Vinci
Jeff:
An interesting first day match up of contrasting styles from two players both looking to rediscover their peak form and success in 2017. Vandaweghe limped to the finish line in 2016 after a promising start, and Vinci never did find consistency in 2016. Vandaweghe had a strong Hopman Cup going 3-1, and the fast Aussie courts should suit her big came.
Prediction: Vandaweghe in 3
Steen:
Coco has two previous H2H wins but I honestly prefer Vinci’s form in this one. It should be close, but Vinci is higher ranked for a reason.
Prediction: Vinci in 3
John:
One of the most intriguing first-round matchups pits the veteran Italian against the dangerous American. Vandeweghe has the weapons to blow Vinci off of the court, but can she be consistent enough to pull off the upset? Vinci will be steady and try to frustrate Vandeweghe with her different spins, slices and shots, but I think Coco comes through in a close one.
Prediction: Vandeweghe in 3
Yesh:
Vinci has certainly showed much more potential in her career. Since her incredible upset of Serena Williams in 2015, though, she hasn’t really made a run at being a top player. I’m still waiting for her to find that 2015 US Open form again.
Prediction: Vandeweghe in 3
Louisa Chirico vs Eugenia Bouchard
Jeff:
The young American made waves at Madrid last year in making the semis of the premiere mandatory event; however, she hasstruggled on the hard courts to find her footing. Bouchard was also inconsistent last year, but more consistent than in 2015. Bouchard’s regaining her confidence and will take this match in 2 sets.
Prediction: Bouchard in 2
Steen:
Chirico isn’t in great form, while Bouchard comes off semis in Sydney. The Canadian has also had way more success in Slams and in Melbourne. Genie should prevail.
Prediction: Bouchard in 2
John:
Very encouraging signs for the Canadian as she advanced to the Sydney semifinals. Her game seems to be slowly progressing back to the level that it was a a couple of years back. Chirico really has nothing to hurt her with, so this should be a fairly routine win.
Prediction: Bouchard in 2
Yesh:
Chirico has some strong potential, especially on clay. This match isn’t on clay, though, and Bouchard should have some much-needed confidence after a good showing in Sydney.
Prediction: Bouchard in 3
Carla Suarez-Navarro vs Jana Cepelova
John:
One of the most vulnerable Top 10 seeds faces a player that has wins over Serena, Halep and Muguruza. Neither has done much leading into Melbourne, but i’ll take the Slovakian to pull another surprise.
Prediction: Cepelova in 3
Jeff:
The consistent and craft Suarez-Navarro has made a career for herself with her beautiful one handed backhand and net game; however she has consistently in difficult situations against big hitters like the resurgent Cepelova. Cepelova uses her weapons and upsets Suarzs-Navarro in 3 sets.
Prediction: Cepelova in 3
Steen:
CSN shut down her season last year with wrist problems and should be rusty, but nothing in Cepelova’s game suggests to me she’ll beat the Spaniard. CSN should find her legs and will this out.
Prediction: Suarez-Navarro in 3
Yesh:
Even though this is the type of matchup that bites Suarez-Navarro the most–and even though I think that Cepelova still has the potential to be a real start–I can’t pick against the Spaniard here. She’s just too consistent.
Prediction: Suarez-Navarro in 3
Kiki Bertens vs Varvara Lepchenko
Jeff:
Bertens had a standout 2016 making the semis of the French and the finals of several tourneys on the tour. Lepchenko struggled with consistency and WADA rumor pressures throughout the year. Bertens will take this match in three sets behind her steadier play and less unforced errors.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
John:
This is a match where the power player has a distinct advantage. Bertens got a couple of matches in Hobart as preparation for the Australian Open and although it still remains to be seen how she’ll do with being seeded and such at Slams, she should have no problems in this one.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Steen:
Bertens did enough in Hobart to suggest to me she’ll be able to beat the struggling American favorite.
Prediction: Bertens in 2
Yesh:
It’s hard not to like Kiki Bertens, especially after what she put up in 2016. I personally also think that Lepchenko is an amazing talent and I’m always waiting for her to break through, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Prediction: Bertens in 3
Francesca Schiavone vs Julia Boserup
John:
Veteran Italian announced this would be her last season on tour and although hard courts aren’t her favorite surface, she should be able to get through the American qualifier, who surely will be nervous playing a former Grand Slam champion.
Prediction: Schiavone in 2
Jeff:
The young American Boserup takes on the the former French Open Champion and crowd favorite in her last Australian Open before retirement in 2018. Schiavone has struggled to get good results in Major tournaments, but the crowd wills her on to victory in two sets here.
Prediction: Schiavone in 2
Steen:
The veteran Schiavone is far from the player she once was, and retirement is in the cards soon. Fans of American tennis should enjoy Boserup beating a big-name player.
Prediction: Boserup in 3
Yesh:
It’s a classic battle of age vs youth. Schiavone has experience on her side and maybe the extra motivation of this being her final Australian Open. But Boserup will be a star, and very soon. Give me the youngster in an upset.
Prediction: Boserup in 2
Simona Halep vs Shelby Rogers
Jeff:
The 4th seeded Romanian has a tough first round assignment in the American Rogers, who advanced to the quarters of the French Open in 2016. The hard hitting American still probably prefers the pace of the clay courts she grew up on, and if Halep is steady and serves well, should take the match in two sets.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Steen:
Despite their closeness in age, Halep, one of the tournament favorites, should frankly whip up on Rogers and build momentum for later rounds.
Prediction: Halep in 2
John:
A very dangerous match for the 4th seed to start out with as Rogers is plenty capable of springing the upset. Another match where the underdog can overpower her favored opponent, the American reached the French Open quarterfinals last year, but her loss to Lesia Tsurenko in Hobart puts me off enough to shy away from picking the upset. Halep will be challenged, but survives to Round 2.
Prediction: Halep in 3
Yesh:
This is such a tempting upset to predict. Rogers made a name for herself last year, while Halep feels like she has been a mainstay at the top for a long time now. It’s shocking when you think that Halep is less than a year older than the American. This should be a great match, but I’ll give Halep the edge here because of her experience in big-time matches.
Prediction: Halep in 3
Main Photo:
