Our panel of Damian Kust and Fraser Learmonth predict an exciting day 4 at the Australian Open with top WTA players like Elina Svitolina taking to the courts at Melbourne Park.
Elina Svitolina vs Coco Gauff
Damian: Perhaps the most exciting clash of round two. Elina Svitolina has been looking for that Grand Slam title since the past few years and still can’t play her best tennis on the biggest stage. Cori Gauff has a lot of time in front of her but she’s already scored some similar upsets. The American seems to have a real knack for making the opponent look average and drag down her rivals’ level. Svitolina hasn’t been doing well recently and she’s going to be vulnerable. This should be tight. Gauff in 3
Fraser: Gauff did well to get past Jill Teichmann in straight sets in the first round. However, she now faces a much tougher test in Elina Svitolina. The Ukranian played some very good tennis on hard courts last year and looks to have shaken off her poor warmup event performance after dominating Bouzkova in her first round tie. This may be close, but Gauff isn’t at Svitolina’s level and it will show here. Svitolina in 2
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Belinda Bencic vs Svetlana Kuznetsova
Damian: Their head-to-head history consists of five matches, including two in 2020 that they split. Svetlana Kuznetsova is still very motivated to succeed in the twilight of her career but sometimes the body just doesn’t listen. That was the case in Melbourne the previous week and while she scored an easy victory over Barbora Strycova in the first round, I think that might have been more indicative of her real level right now. Not that Belinda Bencic is in particularly good form but she should have a huge fitness advantage. Bencic in 3
Fraser: Bencic managed to get her first win of 2020 on the board in the first round against Lauren Davis. She now faces another player short of form and matches in Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian can be a threat when she finds her game of years gone by, but Bencic is a legit star on the women’s tour and one of the best in the game. She should win here and build momentum for a deep run. Bencic in 2
Karolina Muchova vs Mona Barthel
Damian: Karolina Muchova always seems to find the extra gear for the Grand Slam and perhaps that will be the case here as well. The Czech has a pretty good draw to try to go deep here while under the radar. Mona Barthel was really struggling in her opening round win and shouldn’t present that much of a challenge. Muchova in 2
Fraser: Muchova did well to navigate a tough first round test againist Jelena Ostapenko and now has a much more manageable second round match against German Mona Barthel. The German has never managed to sustain a good enough level to break into the top 100 on the women’s tour whereas Muchova looks like a potential top 10 player in years to come. The Czech should win this comfortably. Muchova in 2
Jennifer Brady vs Madison Brengle
Damian: Jennifer Brady hasn’t slowed that much since the US Open, she’s still winning matches with her unbelievable serve and forehand combination. The younger of the Americans owns a single head-to-head win, reached the semifinals at the Grampians Trophy last week and demolished Alina Bolsova in the opening round. She should continue cruising here. Brady in 2
Fraser: Brady is coming off a career year in 2020 in which she won her first title and made the semifinal of the US Open. The American is playing some of her best tennis at the moment which is unfortunate for fellow countrywoman Brengle who simply doesn’t have the game to live with Brady if she is playing at her best. Brady will be hoping for another deep slam run here and should move on to the third round with little trouble. Brady in 2
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