With 16 intriguing first-round matches on the slate on day one at the Australian Open, there should be plenty of entertaining tennis for the fans at Melbourne Park. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Maria Sakkari vs Nao Hibino, Barbora Krejcikova vs Mai Hontama, and Magda Linette vs Caroline Wozniacki. But who will advance?
Australian Open Day 1 Predictions
Aryna Sabalenka vs Ella Seidel
Yesh: Aryna Sabalenka isn’t losing early in this event. Odds are decent she isn’t losing at all, at least until the final. She won’t trip up here.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Jordan: What an experience this will be for 18-year-old Seidel in her first Grand Slam main draw match. She did a great job coming through qualifying, but nothing will prepare her for the challenge of the defending champion. A Sabalenka win seems inevitable and she can work her way into the tournament. But hopefully Seidel can rise to the occasion and show some of her best tennis.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Damian: Sabalenka was given a great draw and will only have to play one of Swiatek or Rybakina to win the title. The early rounds look relatively simple as well, including this one against Seidel. The German did well to get through the qualifying, but the top few seeds (Sabalenka included) are really strong on the women’s side right now.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
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Alize Cornet vs Maria Timofeeva
Yesh: Maria Timofeeva is an impressive youngster with a bright future. But Alize Cornet performs her best on the biggest stages, even though she now seems somewhat past her peak.
Prediction: Cornet in 3
Jordan: This match could be more dangerous than it looks for Cornet. Timofeeva qualified for the main draw. However, at her best, she is very dangerous, as she proved last year when she won the title in Budapest while ranked outside the Top 200. Cornet is the higher ranked, but is past her prime. This feels like it could be an upset against the veteran Frenchwoman.
Prediction: Timofeeva in 3
Damian: Cornet was in the quarterfinals here two years ago, but these days seem to be long behind her now. She’s out of the top 100 and will need to find another peak performance at the Slams, which to her credit used to be one of her specialties. Against Timofeeva who won that WTA Tour title last year but didn’t fully push on, maybe she can do it?
Predicton: Cornet in 3
Tamara Korpatsch vs Jodie Burrage
Yesh: Jodie Burrage had impressive moments last year. Tamara Korpatsch’s highs weren’t quite as high, but she’s a more solid player in general.
Prediction: Korpatsch in 3
Jordan: These two had an epic match at the Transylvania Open at the end of last season. Korpatsch came back from 5-1 down in a final set tiebreak to win, and she ultimately won her maiden WTA title at the event. Will Burrage get her revenge? It may be close again, but the Briton gets the edge. She is the more powerful player, and the Melbourne courts may be just fast enough to help her playing style more.
Prediction: Burrage in 3
Damian: Korpatsch won that Cluj title at the end of last year and her 0-2 start to the year really isn’t that bad as she played pretty well against both Osaka and Pera. She definitely has a more explosive ceiling than Burrage, which should allow her to have the edge in this one on a quicker court.
Prediction: Korpatsch in 2
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Emina Bektas vs Kamila Rakhimova
Yesh: Kamila Rakhimova is a better player, but I’ve been impressed with Emina Bektas and her potential. Don’t be surprised if she starts to break through more this year.
Prediction: Bektas in 3
Jordan: This promises to be a tight battle. Neither woman has won a main draw match at the Australian Open, or many Grand Slam main draw matches overall. Rakhimova is slightly more experienced, but it is not clear how much that will count in this matchup. This is a hard one to call. Rakhimova to show some extra firepower when needed in the important moments.
Prediction: Rakhimova in 3
Damian: Bektas will actually be a pretty interesting story this year. She had one of the most unexpected top 100 breakthroughs in 2023 and now finds herself in that spot where she will need to start backing it up. Even if her ability to do so remains untested, she might have enough momentum carried over to grab a win here anyway.
Prediction: Bektas in 3
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
