The first round of the women’s singles at the Australian Open concludes on Day 3 of the event. The final 20 matches of the round should provide blockbuster entertainment, including multiple meetings of former Slam champions. As always, we at LWOT share our thoughts on all the matches. We split the 20 matches between this and four other articles. Those articles feature Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Pliskova, Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi, Jessica Pegula vs Rebecca Marino, and Emma Raducanu vs Shelby Rogers. Predicting these matches are Jack Edward, Glenys Furness, and Jordan Reynolds. Who do you think will advance?
Australian Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Petra Martic vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Jack:
This won’t be easy. Martic is an experienced hitter with the fire power to hang with most on the tour. Tomljanovic has been back in action long enough to feel confident in her own weaponry, however, plus the boost from the crowd could prove the decisive factor.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3
Glenys:
Martic reached the quarter final of the ASB Classic, whilst Australian Tomljanovic hasn’t played a warm up event. The Australian will be the crowd favorite and won the last meeting of these two back in 2021 on American soil but Martic leads the head to head.
Prediction: Tomljanovic in 3
Jordan:
Martić is experienced, and a very solid all-round player. Tomljanović is still looking to find her best again after returning towards the end of last season after a long time sidelined with injury. The home crowd will do what they can for the Australian, but I feel Martic can wear her down at this stage of her comeback.
Prediction: Martic in 3
Emma Navarro vs Xiyu Wang
Jack:
Emma Navarro’s got to be feeling a bit more confident than Xiyu Wang. This year’s champion in Hobart has a fairly reliable game which should be able to trump the power of the slightly mercurial Chinese player.
Prediction: Navarro in 3
Glenys:
Both made semi finals at the ASB Classic, whilst Navarro won the event in Hobart last week so will be full of confidence. The American is the higher ranked player and should get the better of her Chinese opponent, but it won’t be a straightforward match.
Prediction: Navarro in 3
Jordan:
Both women have made positive starts to the season. Wang came close to reaching the final in Auckland, while Navarro went further and won her maiden WTA title in Hobart. Yet, despite that, I am backing Wang. I feel her powerful groundstrokes can shock Navarro, and sometimes players struggle at the tournament after their first title.
Prediction: Wang in 3
Renata Zarazua vs Martina Trevisan
Jack:
A slew of good results have manifested for Renata Zarazua but the majority of them have come on clay. Though she came through qualifying, it was ropey and her recent loss to the world #431 in Canberra shows she is still vulnerable on the surface. Trevisan is also more comfortable on the red dirt but I think her experience on hard courts against the best in the world will help her a lot here.
Prediction: Trevisan in 2
Glenys:
The Italian leads the head to head, they have only played once before. However, the Mexican has come through qualifying to land in the main draw. This makes her dangerous, as qualifiers have had more time to get used to the courts.
Prediction: Zarazua in 3
Jordan:
It has been a slow start to the season for Trevisan, who has lost both her matches comprehensively in straight sets. Zarazua came through qualifying, and this is her second ever Grand Slam main draw appearance, and first since the 2020 French Open. Even an out of form Trevisan should find a way to win this one.
Prediction: Trevisan in 2
Iga Swiatek vs Sofia Kenin
Jack:
Świątek has been given a tough opener in Kenin—however, the last time the Pole went out in the opening round of a Slam was at Wimbledon in 2019. She knows how to hit the ground running at the biggest events of the year and her recent form has been menacing. In a way, she probably couldn’t have asked for a better opener to force a quick start from her Down Under.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Glenys:
Swiatek is the top seed but her best finish here was a semifinal in 2022. The Pole has a much better record at Grand slams on clay courts, having won the French Open three times. Kenin won here in 2020 but has not faired well since. The American only made the first round last year. Kenin has played some warm up events, but exited early. It will be no different this time.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Jordan:
Kenin made some positive steps last season, after enduring many struggles since her famous 2020 triumph in Melbourne. However, she still remains consistently below the level she was at her very best. Kenin beat Coco Gauff at Wimbledon last year, but an even better performance will be needed to have a chance against the world No. 1. Swiatek has been in tremendous form since the closing tournaments of last season, and should win this.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Main Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
