It’s Day 4 of the Australian Open on Thursday in Melbourne. The second round wraps up, and we at LWOT are predicting every match of the day for you. This set of predictions looks at four matches. We also have three more sets, featuring Belinda Bencic vs Jelena Ostapenko, Garbine Muguruza vs Ajla Tomljanovic, and Iga Swiatek vs Carla Suarez Navarro. Predicting today’s matches are Tracey Essex, Andrew Watson, and Pablo Mosquera.
Australian Open Day 4 Women’s Predictions
Donna Vekic vs Alize Cornet
Tracey:
The Vekic return game should cause any player concern. It’s perhaps one of the best parts of the Croat’s game. In fact, she converted on 100% of her opportunities against Maria Sharapova. It was a solid performance from the 19th seed. It’s no surprise that Cornet lost the opening set to Monica Niculescu. It takes a bit to adjust to the spin and slice off the Romanian’s racquet. Yet Cornet caught on quite quick taking the next to sets with dropping but a single game. Both Vekic and Cornet are playing well, but Vekic has a bit more depth to her game.
Prediction: Vekic in 3
Andrew:
The Croatian will be looking overpower the Frenchwoman in this clash. Cornet has slipped away from the top of the game over recent years though she showed some good form in coming back to defeat Monica Niculescu. This should go the way of the higher ranked player though, Vekic will be stronger than Cornet on serve and that should go some way to deciding the outcome.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Pablo:
As in her debut, Vekic is entering this duel with a losing record. But the precedent against Cornet took place in 2017, when the Croatian was nowhere near her current Top 20 status. Cornet, who is turning 30 years of age on Wednesday, overcame a sloppy start against Monica Niculescu, notching her fourth win of the season, with all four going the distance. She won’t be earning a belated birthday win, though.
Prediction: Vekic in 2
Harriet Dart vs Simona Halep
Tracey:
Kudos to Dart for the grit and determination to exit Misaki Doi. Down 5-1 in the third set tiebreak, the Briton played composed, level tennis to claw her way back to 8-6 and secure the win. But, I don’t see much opportunity for the 23-year-old to make inroads into the Halep game. The qualifier will get very few games for the fourth seed.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Andrew:
The Brit showed great tenacity to come back and defeat Misaki Doi in a long three set match. Halep showed grit of her own to save set points in set one against the dangerous Jennifer Brady. Winning that set proved vital for the Romanian as she clearly grew in confidence. Halep should be a bit more comfortable in this match, expect her to repeat a straight sets performance.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Pablo:
On the one and, Halep failed to perform remotely close to her top level in the round of 128. On the other hand, in terms of first round difficulty, Jennifer Brady is as tricky as it gets. A win is a win. Dart looked unstoppable throughout qualifying, but she was pushed to the limit by Misaki Doi in the opener. Suffice to say, Halep is a different animal, despite her relatively discrete 20-10 career record at the Australian Open.
Prediction: Halep in 2
Priscilla Hon vs Angelique Kerber
Tracey:
You’ve got to like Angelique Kerber’s chances against Hon. It’s really the third round clash with Camila Giorgi or Sveta Kuznetsova that may well end the Melbourne run for the 17th seed.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Andrew:
Hon has been progressing quite nicely through the rankings in the last couple of years and hasn’t been afraid to take on more established WTA players. Kerber hasn’t been in top form for quite a while so the ingredients are there for a potential shock. The German was comfortable though in the first round and the former Grand Slam title-winner may just avoid a giant-killing in this encounter.
Prediction: Kerber in 3
Pablo:
As opposed to what happened in Brisbane and Adelaide, where she crashed out right away, Hon took advantage of her wild card in Melbourne, scoring a 6-3 6-4 win over Kateryna Kozlova. Meanwhile, Kerber obliterated 18-year-old qualifier Elisabetta Cocciaretto, leaving behind her own struggles from the warm-up tournaments. It’s hard to envision a scenario where the 2016 champion doesn’t advance.
Prediction: Kerber in 2
Elina Svitolina vs Lauren Davis
Tracey:
No doubt Lauren Davis had some brilliant shots in Australia. Yet, she hasn’t faced an elite player. Elina Svitolina was blown out of Brisbane by an in-form Danielle Collins. There’s obviously a bit of rust for the Ukrainian to shake off, but not enough to prevent a second round win.
Prediction: Svitolina in 2
Andrew:
The American has a good chance against the high seed. Svitolina hasn’t been in sparkling form in 2020 and struggled past Katie Boulter in Round 1. Davis will fight for every ball and push Svitolina, but there may just be too much quality from the Ukrainian in the end.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Pablo:
Since she became a Top 10 mainstay in 2017, Svitolina hasn’t lost at a Major against a player outside the Top 60. Davis, currently ranked No. 62, upset Angelique Kerber at Wimbledon last year and came within inches of ousting Simona Halep in Melbourne two years ago. The Ukrainian holds a commanding 4-0 head-to-head edge but doesn’t instil much confidence at the moment. She was blown off the court by Danielle Collins in Brisbane and struggled to beat a rusty Katie Boulter in the opening round here. It will be close.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
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