On day three at the Australian Open, the second round will commence with the remaining 32 players in the bottom half of the women’s singles draw battling to keep their hopes of winning the title alive. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Simona Halep vs Ajla Tomljanovic, Iga Swiatek vs Camila Giorgi and Naomi Osaka vs Caroline Garcia, with out panel of Jim Smith, Yesh Ginsburg and Steen Kirby making their picks. But who will reach the last 32?
Australian Open Day Three Predictions
Serena Williams vs Nina Stojanovic
Jim: Nina Stojanovic’s form coming into the Australian Open may have been indifferent, but the Serbian found her game to oust Irina-Camelia Begu in straight sets in the first round. But facing Serena Williams is a different matter entirely. This should be straightforward for the great American.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Steen: Sets are surely out of the question, the only thing to watch here is how many games Stojanovic can manage against an in-form Williams. This will be another rout.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Yesh: Stojanovic got a win here, and against Begu who had been in decent form, which is great. Facing an in-form Serena Williams, she won’t get another.
Prediction: Williams in 2
Embed from Getty Images
Fiona Ferro vs Elena Rybakina
Jim: Fiona Ferro is perhaps the most dangerous unseeded player in the draw. She is certainly good enough to give Elena Rybakina’s credentials a thorough examination. But if the Kazakh is at her best, she should be able to hit through Ferro with enough regularity to reach the last 32.
Prediction: Rybakina in 3
Steen: They may have split meetings last year, but Rybakina’s form is a little better and she’s better on hard courts.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
Yesh: I’ve been really impressed with Ferro. She plays well and is constantly battling. She’s definitely going to be a challenger in the future. On the other hand, Rybakina is one of the top players in the world right now. This won’t be close.
Prediction: Rybakina in 2
[pickup_prop id=”4817″]
Alize Cornet vs Ann Li
Jim: Ann Li is enjoying quite the summer in Australia. Fresh from reaching the final at the Grampians Trophy, which was cancelled to allow players the chance to rest ahead of the Australian Open, the young American dished out a 6-2 6-0 thrashing to Zhang Shuai. Alize Cornet has plenty of experience, and quality too, but this does not seem like a good time to play Li.
Prediction: Li in 2
Steen: Li is inexperienced but in great form, whilst Cornet has experience but has been posting middling results of late. Presuming Li can handle the pressure this match is primed for an upset.
Prediction: Li in 3
Yesh: I’ve been so impressed with what Li has done in Australia. Her story is amazing, and she’s playing the best tennis of her life. Cornet is the better player, at least at this point, but can be a bit inconsistent.
Prediction: Li in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Ludmilla Samsonova vs Garbine Muguruza
Jim: Garbine Muguruza made an assured start to her Australian Open campaign, one which suggests a deep run in Melbourne is very much a possibility. Ludmilla Samsonova might offer more of a challenge that Margarita Gasparyan did, but her chances of upsetting the Spaniard look almost as remote.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Steen: The qualifier Samsonova is likely punching above her weight class here. Yet to reach the top 100 (but on her way) she’ll face off with the accomplished Muguruza, who should have enough game to reach the third round.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Yesh: Muguruza looks okay right now, having started the season well at the Yarra Valley Classic, and she’s certainly far more talented than the qualifier Samsonova. She should win easily.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
