The second round of the Australian Open wraps up on Day 4. That means that there will be 16 women’s matches with competitors hoping to reach the third round. As always, we here at LWOT will share our thoughts on all the matches. We split up the matches between this and the other articles, featuring Sam Stosur vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Iga Swiatek vs Rebecca Peterson, and Aryna Sabalenka vs Xiyu Wang. Predicting today’s matches are Fraser Learmonth, Andy Watson, and Jim Smith.
Australian Open Day 4 Women’s Predictions
Anett Kontaveit vs Clara Tauson
Fraser:
What a match this should be. Tauson is one of several rising young stars on the WTA Tour while Kontaveit has finally established herself as an elite player in the women’s game. Kontaveit’s game is more polished than Tauson’s which gives her the edge here. The Estonian should edge a tight affair.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 3
Andy:
The highest quality match in Round 2. Both of these players will contest finals and other big matches this season. At the moment Kontaveit has the experience edge but it’ll be a real test for her too.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Jim:
Anett Kontaveit is one to watch at this year’s Australian Open. That’s hardly a groundbreaking revelation, but it’s no less true for that. Clara Tauson is a good player with a bright future, but with Kontaveit in this kind of form there can surely only be one winner here.
Prediction: Kontaveit in 2
Sorana Cirstea vs Kristina Kucova
Fraser:
Cirstea showed how dangerous she is when she’s on form by dismantling Kvitova in the first round. That level should see her through at least one more round here if not more.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Andy:
The Romanian delivered the predicted shock in the opening round against Kvitova. Kucova did well to get through her match against an in form Misaki Doi. I prefer the skills of Cirstea in this encounter to dominate.
Prediction: Cirstea in 2
Jim:
Sorana Cirstea has been boom or bust so far this year, scoring some excellent wins but failing to back them up. Will that pattern continue here after her big win over Petra Kvitova? Quite possibly, but this is a match that looks winnable on paper for a player of her ability.
Prediction: Cirstea in 3
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Hailey Baptiste vs Maddison Inglis
Fraser:
Both these players are hoping to jump inside the Top 100 with a deep run here in Melbourne. Given what she showed against Leylah Fernandez, I think Inglis is playing better tennis and should just edge what will be a tight match full of nerves.
Prediction: Inglis in 3
Andy:
Both of these players made a big impact in their first matches. The Aussie probably had the standout result in taking down Fernandez, and combine this with the higher rankings and home advantage and I make her favorite to progress.
Prediction: Inglis in 3
Jim:
Hailey Baptiste has been on quite the charge so far at this year’s Australian Open coming through the qualifying with some battling wins before outlasting Caroline Garcia in the first round. But Maddison Inglis looks like she is on a swiftly upward trajectory and will have the crowd right behind him.
Prediction: Inglis in 3
Alize Cornet vs Garbine Muguruza
Fraser:
Muguruza arguably should have won this event last year had she managed to capitalize on two match points against eventual winner Naomi Osaka. Still, she went on to have a stellar 2021 campaign as is the better in better form here. Expect another deep run from the Spaniard this year.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Andy:
Muguruza will be all over the famed Cornet second serve. I predict that Muguruza will win 60%+ points on Cornet’s second serve and the pressure on that shot will be the key to the match here.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Jim:
Garbine Muguruza’s record at the Australian Open (bar in 2020), isn’t much to write home about, but the Spaniard has shown (in 2020) that she can succeed in these conditions. Alize Cornet is a dangerous player when she is at her best, and she generally enjoys the big occasion, but it would be a pretty major surprise if she came away with anything here.
Prediction: Muguruza in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
