Expect plenty of entertaining tennis on day one at the Australian Open with a host of star names set to take to the courts. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Ash Barty vs Lesia Tsurenko, Belinda Bencic vs Kristina Mladenovic, Coco Gauff vs Wang Qiang, Barbora Krejcikova vs Andrea Petkovic, Ons Jabeur vs Nuria Parrizas Diaz, Sofia Kenin vs Madison Keys and Victoria Azarenka vs Panna Udvardy. But who will reach the round of 64?
Australian Open Day 1 Predictions
Naomi Osaka vs Maria Osorio
Jim: Naomi Osaka hasn’t played much tennis since her shock loss in the third round at the US Open. But the Japanese star enjoys the conditions in Melbourne, where she has twice won the title, and usually thrives on the big stage. Expect her to get past Maria Osorio easily enough.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
Yesh: Osorio is a budding star, and she’s going to pull off a massive upset someday. Is today that day? Quite possibly. The teenager has so much potential, and Osaka hasn’t quite been herself since the French Open last year. The Japanese player looked better to start this season, though, and she should be favored.
Prediction: Osaka in 3
Fraser: Osaka had a poor 2021 by her standards. However, I fully expect the Japanese star to turn things around this year. She should be a favourite to win this tournament given her Grand Slam pedigree. She should certainly see the second round at least with a very winnable first round match here.
Prediction: Osaka in 2
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Donna Vekic vs Alison Riske
Jim: Both these players have had plenty of problems with injuries and form in recent years, but it is Donna Vekic who has looked closer to rediscovering her best tennis. Still, Alison Riske comes into this match in good form after reaching the final in Adelaide. Vekic’s revival might just have to wait a little longer.
Prediction: Riske in 3
Yesh: Riske used to be a grass court specialist. She’s impressing on all surfaces, now. Vekic, meanwhile, has never quite found the level that plays up to her talent.
Prediction: Riske in 2
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Fraser: Riske should be favourite to advance here. The American recently made the final at WTA Adelaide 2 and looks in great touch to start the year. By contrast Donna Vekic has no real form to speak of coming into this tournament. The American moves on here.
Prediction: Riske in 3
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Petra Martic vs Jil Teichmann
Jim: This is a tough first-round draw for both. But Jil Teichmann has been making impressive strides of late, even if she does lack some consistency. With her power from the back of the court sure to be rewarded on this surface, expect her to get the better of Petra Martic.
Prediction: Teichmann in 3
Yesh: Teichmann was very solid through much of last year, though the Swiss has not kept that up recently. I think this matchup will help her find her groove again.
Prediction: Teichmann in 2
Fraser: Teichmann may have had a slow start to this year, but she is clearly the better player here. She also proved in 2021 that she is no slouch on hard courts and should be taken seriously on the surface. This should be a routine win to book her place in the second round.
Prediction: Teichmann in 2
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Alison Van Uytvanck vs Cristina Bucsa
Jim: Alison Van Uytvanck’s hard-hitting approach doesn’t lend itself to consistency, but it does make the Belgian a hard player to stop when she is at her best. This will be a test for her, however, with Bucsa having played well in the qualifying. I’m not entirely convinced it is a test she will pass.
Prediction: Bucsa in 3
Yesh: Van Uytvanck hasn’t been near her best for a while, but her game is still powerful when it’s on. She should be able to play her way into some form in the first Major of the year.
Prediction: Van Uytvanck in 3
Fraser: I like Bucsa for the upset here. Van Uytvanck hasn’t looked great so far in Australia and has been slowly declining in general over the last 12 months or so. I think that trend continues with an early exit for the Belgian here.
Prediction: Bucsa in 3
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