We wrap up the first round of the 2022 Australian Open on Day 2. That means there are 32 women’s matches scheduled. As always, we here at LWOT are going to offer you our thoughts on all the matches. We split up the matches into articles with four matches each, so that means eight articles. The other seven articles feature Anett Kontaveit vs Katerina Siniakova, Simona Halep vs Magdalena Frech, Iga Swiatek vs Harriet Dart, Angelique Kerber vs Kaia Kanepi, Aryna Sabalenka vs Storm Sanders, Garbine Muguruza vs Clara Burel, and Emma Raducanu vs Sloane Stephens. Predicting this set of matches are Andrew Watson, Fraser Learmonth, and Jim Smith.
Australian Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Alize Cornet vs Viktoria Tomova
Andrew:
2021 was a decent year for Alize Cornet. I think she will have the positive attitude and determination to take this one over Tomova.
Prediction: Cornet in 2
Fraser: Alize Cornet is the better player here and played good tennis in her warm up events in Australia. Her results weren’t spectacular, but that level should be enough to see her through a couple of rounds here. Back her to advance here.
prediction: Cornet in 3
Jim:
Alize Cornet has made a poor start to the season, whereas Viktoria Tomova impressed in her run through the qualifying. In a match without a particularly clear favourite, though under usual circumstances one would expect Cornet to have the edge, Tomova should probably have enough to get past Cornet this time around.
Prediction: Tomova in 3
Katie Volynets vs Beatriz Haddad Maia
Andrew:
A very good qualification for Volynets but Haddad Maia has become a very solid pro and I think she might be too solid for Volynets at this time.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Fraser: Haddad Maia isn’t a spectacular player by any means. However, she has become a very solid performer if nothing else. This should be a tight match and a real opportunity for Volynets. However, I expect the Brazilian to advance in the end.
prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Jim:
Katie Volynets is another qualifier to have received what looks like a relatively kind draw on paper. But Beatriz Haddad Maia shouldn’t be underestimated. The Brazilian may have lost both of her main draw matches this year, but she has come up against Sara Sorribes Tormo and Belinda Bencic.
Prediction: Haddad Maia in 3
Magda Linette vs Anastasija Sevastova
Andrew:
I favor the Pole here. Sevastova’s career is on the decline now, albeit she had a decent run in a couple of tournaments in 2021. But Linette has managed to remain consistent around #50 in the world by playing some good tennis when she needs to.
Prediction: Linette in 3
Fraser: Linette is the easy call here. The Pole has been far more consistent than Sevastova in recent months and is always a danger on quick hard courts. Sevastova was once a rising star in the women’s game, but those days look firmly behind her now. Back Linette to move on.
Prediction: Linette in 2
Jim:
Once upon a time, Anastasija Sevastova would have been just about a sure thing in this match. But the Latvian is not the player she once was and Magda Linette has improved notably. But on the biggest stage, I still put more trust in Sevastova’s game than Linette’s.
Prediction: Sevastova in 3
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Petra Kvitova vs Sorana Cirstea
Andrew:
A tricky little hurdle this for Kvitova. She is not in form and her level has been off for some time now. Cirstea is a player who needs beating, the Romanian won’t just grant it to you. I think that there could be a small shock here.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Fraser: Not a great first round draw for Kvitova here. The Czech had a poor year last year as far as slams are concerned and will be looking to rectify that here. The quick courts in Melbourne suit her aggressive game, but only if she can keep her errors in check. She should have enough to move on here if she can do just that.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Jim:
This was presumably not the sort of examination that Peta Kvitova wanted early on at the Australian Open after a difficult start to the season. Fortunately for the Czech, Sorana Cirstea has not exactly been pulling up trees herself.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Main Photo from Getty.
