Day 5 of the Australian Open on Friday is full of blockbuster matches. Eight of them, to be precise. Every single third-round match on Friday has incredible potential, and we here at LWOT are going to predict every single one of them for you. This article contains four matches, and we have a second set with the other four. Predicting today’s matches are Tracey Essex, Damian Kust, and Jim Smith.
Australian Open Day 5 Women’s Predictions
Ashleigh Barty vs Elina Rybakina
Tracey:
Barty has nicely handled the pressure playing on home soil, moving through the first two rounds with relative ease. The in-form Aussie has a lot of variety to her game and suspect she’ll need every bit of it against the exceptional level at which Rybakina is currently playing. This is a dangerous match for Barty – one which may see her exit the Australian Open. The Kazakh has been on a tear – a run to the finals in Shenzhen and lifting the trophy in Hobart. I’m going with Barty who has the problem solving skills the young gun hasn’t yet earned.
Prediction: Barty in 3
Damian:
Rybakina is very much in-form but beating Barty is a whole different challenge. The Australian has a tricky game that takes some using to and will have the crowd roaring in her support.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Jim:
Barty made a slightly slow start to her Australian Open campaign, but she ended up beating Lesia Tsurenko fairly comfortably, before dispatching Polona Hercog. She will almost certainly find the in-form Rybakina a tougher proposition, but it is still a match the World #1 should win and one I expect she will.
Prediction: Barty in 2
Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Petra Kvitova
Tracey:
We may have seen a different outcome had the Spaniard Badosa not missed the passing shot on match point by the narrowest of margins. After that miss, Badosa mentally exited the game. I think the World #97 was gaining momentum and could well have taken this match. It was a formidable test for the Czech superstar who now faces an in-form Alexandrova. A very tough battle is in store, but one in which Kvitova should prevail.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Damian:
Kvitova is always a question mark these days and Alexandrova has been playing great. But if the Czech channels any of the tennis she played in the first round to beat Siniakova, she takes this more often than not.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Jim:
There seemed to be a degree of uncertainty surrounding Kvitova coming into the Australian Open, but the 2019 finalist has gone some way to dispelling that with two fine performances. But she faces a player in fine form in Alexandrova and she may need to be at her best to get across the line. But if she is, then she should have enough power to see off the Russian’s challenge.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Caroline Wozniacki vs Ons Jabeur
Tracey:
Jabeur dismantled the #12 seed Johanna Konta in her opener. And she followed that up with a solid win over France’s Caroline Garcia. It’s been a solid start to the tournament for the Tunisian. Yet, Wozniacki will be a tough opponent. One of the best defender in the game, the Dane will make Jabeur play a lot of balls. In her final tournament of her career, I don’t expect we’ll see Wozniacki leave just yet.
Prediction: Wozniacki in 2
Damian:
Jabeur has a very tricky game and can potentially redline her game for two sets. But I think Wozniacki has her eyes on the Serena matchup right now and will not back down easily in her final pro tennis event.
Prediction: Wozniacki in 3
Jim:
Wozniacki extended her career by at least one match with a superb display, reminiscent of her at her very best, to beat the young gun Dayana Yastremska 7-5 7-5 in the second round. And with her career still on the line here, she will not lack motivation to back it up against the Tunisian Jabeur, who impressed in battling back against Caroline Garcia but could be slightly outclassed here.
Prediction: Wozniacki in 2
Naomi Osaka vs Coco Gauff
Tracey:
Naomi Osaka is in exceptional form. Combine that with her overwhelming win against Gauff at the US Open. I see a good fight from the American teen, but she hasn’t yet developed the skills to exit an elite player who’s playing so well.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Damian:
Gauff is definitely a fighter and can pull off great upsets but we’ve seen how this matchup looked at the US Open. Osaka hugely outpowered her and I don’t think much has changed in that matter.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Jim:
Osaka showed that Gauff still has a way to go before she starts challenging for the biggest titles with a ruthless demolition job on Arthur Ashe at this stage of the 2019 US Open. Gauff will doubtless have learned from that experience, but for all that the American continues to improve, it is hard to see her coming away with a radically different result from this match.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
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