The 2023 Australian Open begins with Day 1 of Main Draw play on Monday (Sunday evening in the United States). The day will see a whopping 32 women’s matches, and–as always–we here at LastWordOnTennis will share our thoughts on all of them for you. Who do you think will win? Predicting this set of matches are Yesh Ginsburg, Shane Black, and Manuel Traquete. We split the rest of the day’s matches between seven other articles. They feature Iga Swiatek vs Jule Niemeier, Madison Keys vs Anna Blinkova, Jelena Ostapenko vs Dayana Yastremska, Victoria Azarenka vs Sofia Kenin, Elena Rybakina vs Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Emma Raducanu vs Tamara Korpatsch, and Amanda Anisimova vs Marta Kostyuk.
Australian Open Day 1 Women’s Predictions
Kristina Kucova vs Diana Shnaider
Yesh:
Kucova has not been at her best recently, but Shnaider is young and untested. This will be the biggest match of her career, and I don’t know if it’s time yet to trust her with the occasion.
Prediction: Kucova in 3
Shane:
Veteran Kristina Kucova won just five matches in 2022. Although she picked up a solid win in Hobart over Tamara Korpatsch, I don’t feel very confident in her game. 18-year-old Diana Shnaider did not drop a set in qualifying and should be able to roll in this one.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Manuel:
Rare matchup between two players outside the Top 100 at a Slam. Shnaider could hardly have picked a better draw than facing the World #269 to get to the second round of a Slam and she shouldn’t let this slip.
Prediction: Shnaider in 2
Clara Burel vs Talia Gibson
Yesh:
Honestly, it’s a testament to the weird path of Burel’s career that she’s still in qualifying here. She has huge potential but hasn’t really put everything together yet. I don’t think she’s ready to yet, either, but she should have more than enough for this match.
Prediction: Burel in 2
Shane:
Clara Burel came back from a set down in two different qualifying matches to reach the main draw. 18-year-old Talia Gibson has not won a Tour-level match in her young career. Burel’s consistency should prove to be too much for the young Aussie.
Prediction: Burel in 2
Manuel:
Another rare matchup between players outside the Top 100 at this level. Gibson has the home advantage, but that’s about all the World #340 has going for her. Burel has a golden chance to win a match at a Slam here.
Prediction: Burel in 2
Brenda Fruhvirtova vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Yesh:
She is not quite as advanced as older sister Linda yet, but Brenda Fruhvirtova is full of talent. Sasnovich is inconsistent, but has a better game right now than the young Czech. We’ll see if that’s enough to overcome her bouts of poor play.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 3
Shane:
After advancing through three brutal rounds of qualifying, 15-year-old Brenda Fruhvirtova is looking for her first main-draw Grand Slam victory. She matches up against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who has lost her last six matches dating back to last year. If Fruhvirtova can control her nerves, I believe she has the weapons to break through Sasnovich and win this match.
Prediction: Fruhvirtova in 3
Manuel:
Fruhvirtova had an excellent run in qualifying and will come into the tournament very confident but Sasnovich is clearly the better and more consistent player and she should prevail.
Prediction: Sasnovich in 2
Coco Gauff vs Katerina Siniakova
Yesh:
Gauff is somehow still under the radar. I admit I’ve underestimated her in the past, mostly because I felt the hype had outstripped her actual success at the time. Well, the success is here now. She has arrived and is one of the best players in the game. She won’t slip up here.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Shane:
Coco Gauff is coming off a title in Auckland and feels as if she has a real chance to win this whole tournament. While I think Katerina Siniakova could provide some issues for Gauff, I see the American advancing in straight sets.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Manuel:
Gauff will be aiming for a maiden Slam title and extra motivated after a very dominant title run in Auckland. Siniakova isn’t the easiest round 1 opponent but Gauff should be able to prevail.
Prediction: Gauff in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
