The first round of the Australian Open wraps up on Day 2. We get to see 32 women’s matches across the grounds in Melbourne, in the more wide-open half of the draw. As always, we here at LWOT share our thoughts on all the matches with you. We split the day’s matches between eight different articles. Our other articles feature Aryna Sabalenka vs Tereza Martincova, Sorana Cirstea vs Yulia Putintseva, Karolina Pliskova vs Xiyu Wang, Anett Kontaveit vs Julie Grabher, Mayar Sherif vs Magda Linette, Leylah Fernandez vs Alize Cornet, and Daria Kasatkina vs Varvara Gracheva. Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Damian Kust, and Jakub Bobro. Who do you think will win?
Australian Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Ysaline Bonaventure vs Ekaterina Alexandrova
Jim:
It’s been a tricky start to the season for Alexandrova and it has not got that much easier here with Bonaventure one of the form players of the last few months. But the Russian is the player ranked in the top 20 for a reason. Her best, or something close to it, should be enough for her to get past Bonaventure.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 3
Damian:
This doesn’t have to be easy at all with Bonaventure picking up some great wins on her way to the semis in Auckland recently. The Belgian is always dangerous on a fast court, but Alexandrova has the tools to control the rallies and keep her on the back foot.
Prediction: Alexandrova in 2
Jakub:
Bonaventure kicked off her year with an impressive run to the Auckland semifinals which included a win over Leylah Fernandez. Alexandrova withdrew from her most recent match which should open up the opportunity for an upset here.
Prediction: Bonaventure in 2
Katherine Sebov vs Caroline Garcia
Jim:
Sebov was excellent in the qualifying, not least in her win over world #68 Linda Noskova in the first round. But though the occasion of taking on the fourth seed will be a richly deserved reward for the 24-year-old, it is hard to see any outcome other than a Garcia win here.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Damian:
Sebov eliminated Linda Noskova in the qualifying and rode that momentum to qualify to the main draw. She can’t really stand up to Garcia though, so this should be strictly about the Frenchwoman and her efficiency in producing that hyper-aggressive style.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Jakub:
Sebov shocked everyone in qualifying with a win over Adelaide finalist Linda Noskova, eliminating the teenage sensation that many people wanted to see in the main draw via a wild card. Garcia is 3-1 on the season, only losing to Belinda Bencic. The Frenchwoman has not always had the best results in Melbourne, failing to get past the second round in her past three appearances here. Garcia’s level should be good enough to take out Sebov, though.
Prediction: Garcia in 2
Viktoria Tomova vs Belinda Bencic
Jim:
Bencic looked very sharp last week in Adelaide. If the Swiss can maintain that level, she should have more than enough to account for Tomova.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Damian:
Bencic could be one of the potential dark horses for the title, having started the year so well (6-1, only loss to Swiatek). She should have enough time to recover physically with three days between this match and the blowout she handed to Kasatkina in the Adelaide final.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Jakub:
Bencic has never found much success in Melbourne, only making the second week once in nine appearances. This feels like it might be her time, coming in as the Adelaide 2 champion with wins over Caroline Garcia and Daria Kasatkina. I expect Tomova to be the first victim of Bencic’s potential run here.
Prediction: Bencic in 2
Ons Jabeur vs Tamara Zidansek
Jim:
Will Jabeur break through at the Australian Open? That will be easier said than done, but this is a relatively kind first-round draw for the second seed. Zidansek has played in a Grand Slam semifinal, but she has never really looked like recapturing form that took her to the last four in Paris and the conditions in Melbourne do not really suit her game anyway.
Prediction: Jabeur in 3
Damian:
Jabeur has a nightmare draw in the next few rounds, but it doesn’t start just yet. Zidansek’s hard court game isn’t really threatening enough for the Tunisian to get into trouble here, provided she’s fully fit which was a bit of a concern in Adelaide two weeks ago.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Jakub:
Jabeur became Linda Noskova’s highest-profile scalp in Adelaide after beating Sorana Cirstea and Marta Kostyuk in straight sets. There are doubts in my mind whether Jabeur can contend for the title here despite being a second seed but Zidansek’s level is unlikely to overcome the Tunisian.
Prediction: Jabeur in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
