It’s Day 2 of the Australian Open! If the weather cooperates, we’ll end 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 Amanda Anisimova vs Zarina Diyas, 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, Pablo Mosquera, and Steen Kirby.
Australian Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Kirsten Flipkens vs Karolina Muchova
Tracey:
Karolina Muchova hasn’t spent much time on the Australian courts. Her sole lead-up tournament saw the Czech fall to American Alison Riske in Brisbane. Flipkens lost the openers in Auckland and Hobart, but excelled in doubles alongside compatriot Alison Van Uytvanck. My prediction: Muchova doesn’t shake off the rust quickly enough and Flipkens gets through a three-setter.
Prediction: Flipkens in 3
Steen:
Flipkens is tricky and experienced but Muchova is just the better player.
Prediction: Muchova in 3
Pablo:
Much has been said about Muchova’s steep rise over the past 18 months. Two years ago, the Czech’s didn’t even bother to travel to Australia. Last year, she was the No. 29 seed…in the qualifying draw. In this edition, Muchova is the No. 20 favorite to win it all. Flipkens’ unique style can make life pretty uncomfortable, but the gap in level is massive at the moment.
Prediction: Muchova in 2
Jasmine Paolini vs Anna Blinkova
Tracey:
Neither Paolini nor Blinkova are playing to the level of which they’re capable. Paolini isn’t making it through qualifying rounds. Blinkova won one main draw match, against Belinda Bencic no less, only to lose to an unseeded Zarina Diyas in a tight three-set bout. Blinkova will win her first round before losing to teen phenom Amanda Anisimova in the second.
Prediction: Blinkova in 2
Steen:
Paolini has a real shot to spring an upset here, but I don’t think it’s her time right now.
Prediction: Blinkova in 2
Pablo:
This match would be much more enticing on clay, where both perform at their best. Blinkova owns the better résumé but isn’t reliable yet on a week to week basis. That 6-0 6-2 thrashing Blinkova scored on Paolini three years ago in Manchester has to mean something, right?
Prediction: Blinkova in 2
Nina Stojanovic vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Tracey:
2020 may be a letdown for Pavlyuchenkova after her run to the finals in Moscow at the end of 2020. The Russian will win her second match of 2020 in Melbourne.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 2
Steen:
Stojanovic will need to rise above her usual level to pull an upset. Pavlyuchenkova is not in the best form but her game is superior.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 2
Pablo:
On paper, this is a lopsided affair. Merely six months ago, the 23-year-old Serbian was ranked No. 200 and has done most of her damage at ITF events. Conversely, Pavlyuchenkova, a two-time junior champion in Melbourne, snagged a set from World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in Adelaide last week.
Prediction: Pavlyuchenkova in 2
Donna Vekic vs Maria Sharapova
Tracey:
Sharapova will always be a crowd favorite but her level of play is nowhere near where it once was. Can Sharapova draw a crowd? Absolutely. But, can she win in highly competitive matches? Doubtful. Donna Vekic wins this match if she maintains her composure.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Steen:
Sharapova is a big name and she had a decent showing at last year’s Australian Open, but it’s been rough for her ever since. Vekic is favored and that’s the right call.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Pablo:
Sharapova, who received a wild card to play the main draw, desperately needs a big result Down Under. Should she bow out in the first round, the 2008 champion would drop beyond the No. 300 spot in the WTA rankings. A lot of things have changed since No. 29 Sharapova defeated No. 50 Vekic at the 2018 French Open. The Croatian completed the best season of her career last year, although her form dipped after the US Open.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
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