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 Elina Svitolina vs Lauren Davis, Garbine Muguruza vs Ajla Tomljanovic, and Belinda Bencic vs Jelena Ostapenko. Predicting today are Damian Kust, myself (Yesh Ginsburg), and Steen Kirby.
Australian Open Day 4 Women’s Predictions
Heather Watson vs Elise Mertens
Damian:
Two in-form players will collide in the second round here. Heather Watson has won a couple of close matches lately, piling up confidence before the Australian Open. But it’s the 24-year-old Belgian who gave a brutal beating to Danka Kovinic in the first round that will come into this clash as a favorite. Mertens was in the semifinals here two years ago and clearly really enjoys the conditions Down Under.
Prediction: Mertens in 2
Yesh:
Watson surprised me last round, and she might do the same again. She’s not quite playing at the same level as Mertens is, but she can dig deeper and pull out a tight match.
Prediction: Watson in 3
Steen:
Watson is playing well and she just beat Mertens recently. Things are setup for a solid win here.
Prediction: Watson in 2
Sara Sorribes Tormo vs Anett Kontaveit
Damian:
Sorribes Tormo usually does her best on clay but she’s been playing a lot of hard court matches recently and is clearly developing towards the right direction. But this one probably goes to Kontaveit, who eased through a potentially tricky matchup with Astra Sharma in the first round and should be able to pull through an opponent that has never progressed past that stage before.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Yesh:
This match shouldn’t be too tough. Kontaveit is in better form and better on faster courts.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Steen:
Kontaveit owns the head-to-head record, is ranked higher, and better on this surface. An upset is unlikely.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs Taylor Townsend
Damian:
Taylor Townsend is one of the most exciting ladies to watch, making use of her net skills abilities a lot and employing tactics that are used by pretty much nobody else. This can do her a lot of good against a hard-hitting baseliner like Pavlyuchenkova, who thrives when she can tune in her huge shots. Victory won’t come easy but I’ll take the American to produce the slight upset and outwit her opponent.
Prediction: Townsend in 3
Yesh:
I’ll say the same thing I said last round. Townsend’s serve-and-volley is unique on the women’s tour and can give fits to players who aren’t used to it.
Prediction: Townsend in 2
Steen:
Iga Swiatek vs Carla Suarez Navarro
Damian:
Playing her last Australian Open, Suarez Navarro snapped a five-match losing streak defeating Aryna Sabalenka on Wednesday. The Spaniard benefited from her opponent’s 58 unforced errors. Swiatek certainly won’t give her that many opportunities. The Pole will only be playing her second game since the US Open and was absolutely relentless in attack while she dismantled Timea Babos in the first round.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Yesh:
Suarez Navarro is fun to watch and see how she works her opponents around the court, but it’s hard to see how she’ll not get hit the ball off the court by the Pole here. Swiatek should cruise as long as she keeps the ball in the court.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Steen:
Suarez Navarro is a wily veteran but she’s been out of form. Swiatek should be a bit more comfortable here.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
