Fraser Learmonth and Damian Kust are on hand to predict whether Serena Williams and Garbine Muguruza will carry on into the second week of the Australian Open, or if an upset is in the cards.
Serena Williams vs Anastasia Potapova
Fraser: Potapova has looked great on her return to the tour and looks like she could well become one of the stars on the tour in years to come. However, she is up against a determined Serena Williams who looks to have had a productive spell away from the game. WIlliams has come back fitter and leaner after concerns over her fitness were raised at least year’s US Open, and is moving as well as she has in years. She can no longer blow opponents away like she used to and will need to scrap on occassion in this tournament so the new level of fitness will help there. This won’t be one of those matches though, the all-time great should win comfortably here. Williams in 2
Damian: Anastasia Potapova is undoubtedly a very talented prospect but she might be a bit over her head here. Serena Williams’s fitness is always a possible question mark these days but the American has been in amazing disposition in the first two rounds. She also demolished Potapova here last year. The result might not be this extreme this time around but it should be a rather safe victory again. Williams in 2
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Su-Wei Hsieh vs Sara Errani
If anyone tells you they called this matchup they’re lying. Errani and Hsieh have both played spectacularly well to make it to the third round as underdogs in their respective draws. Hsieh took advantage of a rusty Andreescu whilst Errani benefitted from Venus Williams injuring her ankle early on in their match. Both now have an excellent opportunity to advance to the fourth round of a slam when many would have said they are passed their prime and in the twilight of their careers. Hsieh is such a tricky customer and is striking the ball very cleanly at the moment. If she keeps that up she should win here. Hsieh in 3
Damian: It was a great win for Su-Wei Hsieh over Bianca Andreescu. No one plays this game quite like the Taiwanese and it makes all of her moves so hard to anticipate. Sara Errani will no doubt give it her all and leave her heart out on the court but in rather fast conditions, Hsieh’s unique power and variety should allow her to triumph over Errani’s determination. Hsieh in 3
Iga Swiatek vs Fiona Ferro
Fraser: Swiatek looks to be back to her best after dismissing tricky customer Giorgi in straight sets in her second round match. The Pole hasn’t lost a set in 9 grand slam matches on the bounce and will hope to make it ten with a win here. In Ferro she faces a more than capable player who is fast adapting to hard courts after making a name for herself on the red dirt. Ferro dismissed rising star Rybakina in straight sets last round and will like her chances here. However, Swiatek at her best is a legitimate contender to win this tournament. She should take one step closer to doing that here. Swiatek in 3
Damian: Iga Swiatek seems to be dealing well with the pressure of coming to Melbourne as a Grand Slam champion. The Pole definitely referred to her very mature performances from Paris in a clean second round win over Camila Giorgi. Fiona Ferro has been one of the biggest prodigies of 2020 too but she would probably rather contest this on a clay court. Swiatek in 2
Garbine Muguruza vs Zarina Diyas
Fraser: Muguruza appears to have a thing for losing her way in finals in Melbourne at the moment. The Spaniard threw away a set lead against Kenin at this tournament last year and then failed to serve out the first set against Barty in her warmup event this year. She went on to lose both matches despite playing the best tennis of the tournament prior to those stumbles. However, this isn’t a final and she looks imperious yet again in the early stages here. Diyas is capable of great tennis in bursts and if she is on this might be close. Muguruza will surely be desperate to avenge her disappearance in last years final and go all the way this year though. Back her to move on and get closer still to a chance to make that happen. Muguruza in 2
Damian: Garbine Mugurza was only stopped by Ashleigh Barty last week, as the Australian broke her rhythm with her inventive backhand slice. Zarina Diyas has neither the skillset nor the firepower of Barty and can do much less to keep the Spaniard from finding the right groove. Should be another comfortable win for Muguruza. Muguruza in 2
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