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, Jakub Bobro, and Manuel Traquete. We split the rest of the day’s matches between seven other articles. They feature Coco Gauff vs Katerina Siniakova, 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
Bianca Andreescu vs Marie Bouzkova
Yesh:
Andreescu looked like she was on pace for historic heights back in 2019, but it hasn’t quite panned out. Still, as long as she’s healthy and playing even half her best, she’s favored against almost everyone.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Jakub:
One of the most exciting first-round matches in this draw. Andreescu is always dangerous but she is yet to reach past the second round of a Slam outside of the US Open. Bouzkova hasn’t had the best start to the year, going 2-2 including a loss to Anna Blinkova. The Czech’s consistent style of play though should cause issues to Andreescu.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Manuel:
Andreescu won the US Open in 2019 but has bizarrely not even reached another quarterfinal; outside New York she’s yet to reach the third round of any Slam. She clearly struggles at this level and has a tough enough first round draw that her Slam woes may continue.
Prediction: Bouzkova in 3
Anhelina Kalinina vs Coco Vandeweghe
Yesh:
Kalinina has some major potential but she hasn’t quite put it together yet. Meanwhile, Vandeweghe once had such potential but it never panned out and she seems past her prime. Kalinina should be the better pick here, but it’s certainly not a safe one.
Prediction: Kalinina in 2
Jakub:
An interesting match-up with Kalinina coming in 4-2 on the year, looking for her first main draw win in Melbourne. Vandeweghe, a former semifinalist here, performed well to qualify. The American veteran defeated Yuriko Miyazaki 10-1 in a third-set tiebreak of the final qualifying round. It could go either way but I will lean towards Vandeweghe here.
Prediction: Vandeweghe in 3
Manuel:
Kalinina is the favorite on paper, but Vandeweghe did well to get past qualifying and did win their one previous matchup, even if it was all the way back in 2019. This match definitely has a lot of upset potential.
Prediction: Vandeweghe in 3
Panna Udvardy vs Camila Osorio
Yesh:
On a clay court, Osorio is a tremendous talent. On hard courts, she has potential, but is further from greatness. Udvardy ended 2022 on a good run, but below Tour-level.
Prediction: Osorio in 3
Jakub:
Osorio may be starting her season here but considering Udvardy is 0-7 in Tour-level matches on hard courts, the Colombian should be a pretty clear favorite in this match, Osorio has performed well on hard in the past, such as in her Monterrey title.
Prediction: Osorio in 2
Manuel:
Osorio won both their previous matchups and should be able to do it again. Although they’re close in the rankings, it’s fair to say Osorio is generally the better, more consistent player of the two.
Prediction: Osorio in 2
Iga Swiatek vs Jule Niemeier
Yesh:
Maybe this will change by the semis, but at this point it would be insanity to pick against Iga Swiatek.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Jakub:
Replay of a US Open fourth-round clash that ended up being one of Swiatek’s biggest challenges en route to the title. The Pole is 3-1 coming into Melbourne with a particularly tough loss, winning only four games against Jessica Pegula. Niemeier is 0-3 coming into this match though and Swiatek should make a successful start to the event.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Manuel:
Swiatek is the undisputed best player in the world and the odds-on favorite to win this tournament. Niemeier drew the short straw and it’d be a gigantic upset if she were to advance here, even if she was one of only two players to take a set off the World #1 at the US Open last year.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
