Hopes for a home slam victory are pinned on Australian #1 Ash Barty, she starts her Australian Open campaign against Danka Kovinic. As ever, we here at LWOT are making our picks for every match on the slate, including Garbine Muguruza vs Margarita Gasparyan, Sofia Kenin vs Maddison Inglis, Karolina Muchova vs Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Pliskova vs Jasmine Paolini, Belinda Bencic vs Lauren Davis, Victoria Azarenka vs Jessica Pegula and Kristina Mladenovic vs Maria Sakkari. Our panel of Steen Kirby and Yesh Ginsburg offer their predictions.
Nadia Podoroska vs Christina McHale
Steen: Podoroska was good in warm up play and should be a clear fave against the pedestrian McHale. Podoroska in 2
Yesh: Podoroska had her major breakthrough at the end of last year, and I expect her to keep rising, even against a powerful opponent. Podoroska in 2
Kaia Kanepi vs Anastasjia Sevastova
Steen: Former top 20 players who have slipped away from that ranking, Kanepi is coming off a final but fatigue will be a factor. Sevastova should have enough game to win this. Sevastova in 3
Yesh: Kanepi just finally reached another WTA Tour final, but it’s harder to quickly recover the older you get, and Sevastova is a better player to boot. Sevastova in 2
Ash Barty vs Danka Kovinic
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Yesh: Barty is going to come here with the intention of blasting her way through the field and winning it all. Kovinic won’t stand in her way. Barty in 2
Steen: Despite missing last season Barty has come back as a shotcaller. One of the tournament favourites, Kovinic is unlikely to pose enough of a challenge. Barty in 2
Daria Gavrilova vs Sara Sorribes Tormo
Yesh: Gavrilova is ready to show herself in her home Slam. Sorribes Tormo is a good and consistent test, and it will show us where the Aussie is at. Gavrilova in 3
Steen: Sorribes Tormo has been on a nice run of form, Gabrilova may be a bigger name and at home, but Sorribes Tormo is the safe pick. Sorribes Tormo in 2
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