The WTA continues it’s post Australian Open journey with a stop at the Adelaide International. Our panelist Steen Kirby makes his predictiosn for the day’s matches, a preview of the rest of the day is also available.
Petric Martic vs Ludmilla Samsonova
Martic has started the season slow but reached the quarterfinals in the previous Australian swing tournament prior to Adelaide, Samsonova is here via the qualifiers (and also qualified for the AO, losing in the first round). An upset is certainly possible, but I’m not confident enough to pick it and expect Martic to go through. Martic in 2
Sam Stosur vs Maddison Inglis
Australia’s past vs Australia’s (potential) future, the 23 year old Inglis has been in the last three Grand Slam singles main draws, though she’s yet to win a match, she’s also 3-1 since the Australian Open, where she went down in a competitive match against Sofia Kenin. The formerly top 5 Stosur is out of the top 100 and just returned to the tennis tour for the Australian swing after nearly a year off, Stosur has started the 2021 campaign 1-2 and will be looking to at least get her record to .500 at the end of this home stay. Although Stosur clearly has the longer track record, her confidence is not likely to be high, and Inglis is well positioned to get an upset if she doesn’t get intimidated. Inglis in 3
Storm Sanders vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Sanders was at one point a rising WTA player to watch but she’s been limited in her career thus far in terms of big results. Tomljanovic nearly upset Simona Halep at the Australian Open and simply has a more well rounded, consistent, and bigger game here. Anything but straight sets would surprise me. Tomljanovic in 2
Anna Blinkova vs Misaki Doi
This is close and tough to pick, both are off to so-so starts to the season and have similar rankings and skillsets. Blinkova looks slightly better without any h2h to go from, so Blinkova it is. Blinkova in 2
Yulia Putintseva vs Laura Siegemund
Two wins is all Siegemund has to show for her season thus far while Putintseva has yet to go down in the opening mattch of any tournament this season. Putintseva may not be a Grand Slam winner, but she’s one of the best (if inconsistent) players below the WTA’s elite. Siegemund is overmatched here and I would be surprised if this ends up close. Putintseva in 2
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