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, Coco Gauff vs Katerina Siniakova, 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
Maria Sakkari vs Yue Yuan
Yesh:
Sakkari’s days of being one of the favorites to win a Major seem to have passed her by with the rise of Iga Swiatek and with her unfortunate tendency to struggle in the biggest of matches. Still, she’s one of the most solid on Tour and shouldn’t struggle in this one.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Shane:
Maria Sakkari is still looking for that elusive Grand Slam title. I believe she is focused and ready to make a run in Melbourne. Yue Yuan will have no answer for her power.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Manuel:
Sakkari is still looking for her big breakthrough at Slam level and this is yet another opportunity to do so. This first round should theoretically be easy work for her.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Petra Kvitova vs Alison Van Uytvanck
Yesh:
Petra Kvitova hasn’t won a Major in almost a decade now, but she’s still exceptionally dangerous on faster courts. Van Uytvanck is far past her prime as well, and hasn’t looked her best in a long time. The Czech should cruise.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Shane:
Petra Kvitova reached the final in Melbourne back in 2019 and has generally found these courts to play to her strengths. She looked comfortable in her lead-up event in Adelaide and should be able to use her consistency to best Alison Van Uytvanck.
Prediction: Kvitova in 2
Manuel:
Kvitova is known to blow hot and cold and she’s facing a tricky opponent in this first round, an opponent who did beat her in the Tokyo Olympics. She still should be able to find a way through here.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3
Kamilla Rakhimova vs Kateryna Baindl
Yesh:
Rakhimova is a solid player now. She has potential but hasn’t quite reached it. There’s definitely more strength in her game than Baindl has, which should be enough for now.
Prediction: Rakhimova in 2
Shane:
I believe 21-year-old Kamilla Rakhimova is going to have a breakout year in 2023. She finished the 2022 season winning 12 of her last 15 matches and has established a consistency that she lacked in her teenage years. I believe she will play better when it matters most in what I expect to be a tight match against Kateryna Baindl.
Prediction: Rakhimova in 3
Manuel:
There’s very little to choose between both players here. Both have a great opportunity to get a match victory at a Slam and will give it their all, it will come down to nerves and form on the day.
Prediction: Rakhimova in 3
Madison Keys vs Anna Blinkova
Yesh:
Madison Keys looks to be in tremendous form right now. The American has always been capable of tremendous things. I don’t know if another Grand Slam final is in the cards anytime soon, but a win in this match–even against an opponent who has been solid recently–certainly is.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Shane:
Madison Keys has had a ton of success in Australia in her career. She looked fantastic at the United Cup and should have no problem carrying that form to Melbourne.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Manuel:
Keys tends to play very well in Australia, having reached the semifinals at this tournament last year, only losing to eventual champion Barty. She definitely has the ability to go on another deep run this year and should make quick work of this first round.
Prediction: Keys in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
