With 29 intriguing first-round matches on the slate on day one at the Australian Open, there should be plenty of entertainment for the fans. As ever, we at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Kirsten Flipkens vs Venus Williams, Naomi Osaka vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Aryna Sabalenka vs Viktoria Kuzmova, Bianca Andreescu vs Mihaela Buzarnescu, Simona Halep vs Lizette Cabrera and Greet Minnen vs Petra Kvitova. But who will reach the second round?
Australian Open Day One Predictions
Zarina Diyas vs Tamara Zidansek
Jim: Neither Zarina Diyas nor Tamara Zidansek have done much so far this season to inspire confidence in their chances at Melbourne Park. But the Kazakh has the better record at the Australian Open, having three times reached the third round, including last season, and beat Zidansek very comfortably in their only previous meeting.
Prediction: Diyas in 3
Yesh: I will freely admit that I always overestimate Tamara Zidansek. She had an impressive run a few years ago and I’m always waiting for her to repeat it. It hasn’t happened yet, but it will eventually.
Prediction: Zidansek in 3
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Laura Siegemund vs Serena Williams
Jim: Laura Siegemund played well enough in the Gippsland Trophy to suggest that she might give Serena Williams some trouble, particularly as the great American may not be fully fit. Nonetheless, Williams’ power should allow to hit her way out of any trouble she finds herself in and into the second round in Melbourne.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Yesh: My biggest rule in these is to never pick against Serena Williams. She’s in strong form and ready to make another run at Major #24. She’s not losing this early.
Prediction: Williams in 2
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Hsieh Su-wei vs Tsvetana Pironkova
Jim: After her heroics at the US Open last season, Pironkova has rather regressed to the mean. But Hsieh Su-wei has been anything but impressive so far in Melbourne, losing 2-6 0-6 to Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round at the Yarra Valley Classic. Expect the Bulgarian to take advantage of her opponent’s poor form.
Prediction: Pironkova in 3
Yesh: Hsieh can be a tricky matchup for any player, but Pironkova is looking to build to the best form of her career after an extended pregnancy hiatus. She has the all-court game to counter anything Hsieh throws at her.
Prediction: Pironkova in 2
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Alize Cornet vs Valeria Savinykh
Jim: Valeria Savinykh looked sharp in the qualifying tournament held in Dubai, winning all three of her matches there in straight-sets, and reached the third round in Melbourne back in 2013. But Alize Cornet is a generally reliable performer, particularly at the Majors, and should have enough to get the better of the 29-year-old Russian.
Prediction: Cornet in 2
Yesh: Cornet always had the talent, and she’s finally finding the consistency to back it up. We’ll see what she can do at the first Grand Slam of the year, but she shouldn’t struggle in this opening match.
Prediction: Cornet in 2
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