We start the second round of the Australian Open on Day 3. Here at LWOT, we will share our thoughts on every match for you. The 16 matches on Wednesday are split between four articles. In addition to this article, the other three feature Belinda Bencic vs Amanda Anisimova, Ashleigh Barty vs Lucia Bronzetti, and Naomi Osaka vs Madison Brengle. Predicting this set are Jim Smith, Yesh Ginsburg, and Steen Kirby.
Australian Open Day 3 Predictions
Maria Sakkari vs Qinwen Zheng
Jim:
As expected, Maria Sakkari proved too strong for Tatjana Maria in the first round. That win was not quite as convincing as the Greek might have liked, but that’s no reason to press the panic button. Expect her to account for Zheng Qinwen easily enough.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Yesh:
Sorry looks in good, but not elite, form right now. She won’t need elite form to take out Zheng, though. The Greek’s good form is more than good enough.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Steen:
Sakkari comes off a career year. Zheng is at a career high ranking and is new to this level. The Chinese qualifier has been excellent to start the season and should be able to go the distance; winning is a different question altogether, though.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Camila Giorgi vs Tereza Martincova
Jim:
Camila Giorgi is not a player to die wondering. That does not always work to her advantage, but it does make her a very hard player to stop when she is timing the ball well. Anastasia Potapova found that out to her cost in the first round and Martincova might be about to make a similar discovery.
Prediction: Giorgi in 2
Yesh:
It’s hard to know with Camila Giorgi what you’re going to get. She can win Masters (and maybe even Slams someday) when her game is on. Or she can lose to players well outside the Top 100. Flip a coin for which you’ll get.
Prediction: Giorgi in 2
Steen:
Martincova sits at a career high ranking after a breakthrough 2021. Giorgi won her most matches since 2018 last season and is also looking close to her best. I’ll go with the big hitter here.
Prediction: Giorgi in 3
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Alison Riske vs Jelena Ostapenko
Jim:
This match probably won’t make it to a show court, but it could be one of the most enjoyable of the third day at the Australian Open. But although Alison Riske has the skillset to make life uncomfortable for Jelena Ostapenko, it’s hard to pick against the Latvian’s easy power on this surface.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 3
Yesh:
Ostapenko is another player that’s hard to predict, but her baseline level is usually pretty good. Riske has really upped her game recently, which should mean that she can beat Ostapenko if the Latvian is even a bit off.
Prediction: Riske in 3
Steen:
Riske ended last season with a title and already made a final this year. Ostapenko was solid last year, winning her most matches since 2017 but Riske has the hot hand and I can’t go against that.
Prediction: Riske in 3
Paula Badosa vs Martina Trevisan
Jim:
Martina Trevisan backed up her run through the qualifying with a really good first-round win over Nao Hibino in the main draw. But up against the in-form Paula Badosa, it is hard to see the Italian reaching the third round in Melbourne.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Yesh:
Badosa looks to be in good form right now, and she looks to have the talent to win Majors (yes, plural) someday, likely soon. That doesn’t bode well for the Spaniard’s opponents.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Steen:
Trevisan looked great in qualifying and will be a quality opponent for Badosa, but the Spaniard has reeled off six straight wins (including a title in Sydney); if she’s fit and not tired she’ll have every advantage.
Prediction: Badosa in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
