It’s Day 2 of the Australian Open! Assuming the weather cooperates, we’ll wrap up the first round on Tuesday in Melbourne. Who will win? In addition to our pre-tournament predictions, we’re trying to analyze as many individual matches as we can for you. Each set of predictions contains four matches. In addition to this set, we also have predictions featuring Donna Vekic vs Maria Sharapova, Kiki Bertens vs Irinia Camelia Begu, Kristina Mladenovic vs Karolina Pliskova, Jennifer Brady vs Simona Halep, and Marketa Vondrousova vs Svetlana Kuznetsova. Predicting this set of matches are Tracey Essex, myself (Yesh Ginsburg), and Jim Smith.
Australian Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Anastasija Sevastova
Tracey:
Sure, Tomljanovic can surprise. But, Sevastova is a solid player who will benefit from the Aussie’s error prone game.
Prediction: Sevastova in 2
Yesh:
This should be a really fun match. Sevastova is the better player but isn’t perfectly consistent either. Tomljanovic hasn’t won a match in Melbourne in five years. That will weigh on her if she comes close to taking the upset.
Prediction: Sevastova in 3
Jim:
This might just be one of the most interesting matches of Day 2 at the Australian Open. Tomljanovic has endured some tough draws in recent months and is still waiting for the breakout result that her talent arguably warrants, whilst Sevastova is coming off a poor 2019 and hasn’t quite started yet in 2020. But she remains a dangerous opponent and has won both of her previous meetings with Tomljanovic. However, with the Australian crowd behind her, Tomljanovic should have just enough to edge this one.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3
Angelique Kerber vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Tracey:
Has Angelique Kerber recovered from her back injury which forced her to retire at Adelaide? That’s the big question. If Kerber is injury free, she can easily win this match. If there’s any lingering problem, then she’ll most likely retire. Let’s hope the three time grand slam champion is healthy.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Yesh:
Kerber should be fine in this as long as she’s healthy. She hasn’t been anywhere near her top level in recent years, but should have more than enough to take care of this match.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Jim:
It’s increasingly hard to know what to expect from Kerber. At her best, she remains a formidable opponent, but she seems to be finding fitness and form hard to come by. Cocciaretto, meanwhile, will surely be full of confidence having qualified into the main draw at a Major for the first time. But whilst she looks to be one to watch out for in the future, Kerber will mark a real step up in quality for the Italian, one she doesn’t seem quite ready to make.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
CoCo Vandeweghe vs Laura Siegemund
Tracey:
CoCo Vandeweghe owns this head to head 5-0. Yet, the American certainly hasn’t risen to the level she attained prior the foot injury which sidelined her for much of 2019. The hard hitting American couldn’t make it to the main draw in Auckland or Adelaide. Laura Siegemund hasn’t been spectacular so far, but is playing at a much higher level that Vandeweghe.
Prediction: Siegemund in 3
Yesh:
Siegemund is a good player, and Vandeweghe has never been the same since her injury a few years ago. Still, the American likes this matchup, and has been looking better recently.
Prediction: Vandeweghe in 3
Jim:
Jim: It has been a real struggle for Vandeweghe since picking up a nasty ankle injury at Wimbledon in 2018, one that eventually required surgery. Since then she has slowly been working her way back into contention. But one rather suspects that this will still be a match too soon in her recovery process, with Siegemund having made a solid start to the year.
Prediction: Siegemund in 3
Amanda Anisimova vs Zarina Diyas
Tracey:
It looks like it should be smooth sailing for Amanda Anisimova through the first two rounds. The third round clash with Kiki Bertens is another story.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Yesh:
Anisimova hasn’t really found any rhythm after missing much of last season with injury and following her father’s untimely passing. But what she has shown us is incredible. She will be on top of the game for a long time, and a tricky opening match won’t stop her here.
Prediction: Anisimova in 2
Jim:
Anisimova made her name with a run to the fourth round at the Australian Open last season, backing that up with a thrilling run to the French Open semifinals. But she will likely find things rather less straightforward on her return to Melbourne, where she will have a target on her back. But the American is clearly a star in the making and should be able to cope.
Prediction: Anisimova in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
