Grand Slam action returns with the Australian Open set to get underway. The schedule on day one is packed with exciting matches and, as always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Naomi Osaka vs Maria Osorio, Coco Gauff vs Wang Qiang, Barbora Krejcikova vs Andrea Petkovic, Belinda Bencic vs Kristina Mladenovic, Ash Barty vs Lesia Tsurenko, Sofia Kenin vs Madison Keys and Victoria Azarenka vs Panna Udvardy. But who will secure a spot in the second round?
Australian Open Day 1 Predictions
Ons Jabeur vs Nuria Parrizas Diaz
Jim: Ons Jabeur is another player who will have to adjust to a new position in the game over the course of this season. But the Tunisian has the quality to thrive even with a target on her back and she should certainly have the beating of Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Yesh: Ons Jabeur had a massive breakout in 2021. I’m not expecting any sort of regression in 2022.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Fraser: Parrizas Diaz is enjoying the best patch of her career and will be full of confidence heading into this Australian Open. However, her joy may be short-lived given she has the undesirable task of trying to beat Jabeur in the first round. The Tunisian is unplayable when at her best and should have too much in her arsenal for the Spaniard here.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
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Elina Svitolina vs Fiona Ferro
Jim: It’s been a tough start to the season for Elina Svitolina, with back-to-back defeats in Adelaide. But this looks like a good opportunity for her to bounce back. Fiona Ferro is a similar sort of player, but with less power off the ground. That’s not to say that Svitolina will definitely win this match, but she definitely should be winning it.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
Yesh: Svitolina is still one of the most talented women in the world. She sometimes flounders in big occasions, but rarely in the early rounds of Majors.
Prediction: Svitolina in 3
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Fraser: I think Svitolina is in trouble here. The Ukrainian was demolished by Madison Keys last week in Adelaide and deservedly so. The level that saw her inside the top five in the world hasn’t been seen for some time and she may well be on the receiving end of an upset here. Fiona Ferro’s lethal forehand may well see her through this match.
Prediction: Ferro in 3
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Lucia Bronzetti vs Varvara Gracheva
Jim: Varvara Gracheva’s season got off to an absolutely horrible start as she lost 0-6 0-6 to Sorana Cirstea in the Gippsland Trophy. That’s a hard thing to bounce back from, especially for a relatively inexperienced player. Expect Lucia Bronzetti to take advantage.
Prediction: Bronzetti in 2
Yesh: Bronzetti had her moments in recent years, but Gracheva is more consistent. This could be fun, or it could be very lopsided.
Prediction: Gracheva in 3
Fraser: Gracheva is a bright young talent trending in the right direction. The Russian should have enough to come through here and may well win a few matches in Melbourne before her number is up.
Prediction: Gracheva in 2
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Claire Liu vs Veronika Kudermetova
Jim: The future is surely bright for Claire Liu, but she isn’t there yet. Her run to the second round as a qualifier in the Gippsland Trophy was encouraging, but not enough to suggest that she can beat the 20th seeded Veronika Kudermetova here.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Yesh: Liu looks so close to breaking out so often, but she hasn’t quite put it all together yet. Kudermetova, meanwhile, is a consistent top player.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 2
Fraser: Kudermetova is a dangerous player when her game is firing. She faces a tough first round match in Liu and a win is far from guaranteed. However, she is the better player and something near her best should see her through this test in the end.
Prediction: Kudermetova in 3
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