It promises to be an entertaining first day at the Australian Open with 16 intriguing matches on the slate at Melbourne Park. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match, including Mirra Andreeva vs Marie Bouzkova, Zheng Qinwen vs Anca Todoni and Paula Badosa vs Wang Qiang. But who will reach the second round?
Australian Open Day 1 Predictions
Aryna Sabalenka vs Sloane Stephens
Tope: Sloane Stephens went on a seven-match win streak last season, winning her seventh tour-level title in Rouen in the process. However, she arrives in Melbourne amidst an eight-match losing streak and that will almost certainly become nine as she plays the defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, who she hasn’t defeated in four attempts.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Ilemona: Stephens has pushed Sabalenka to the distance in the past but has never managed to notch a win in any of their previous four matches. Both players have had markedly different results in the time since they last met and Sabalenka will be confident of ending things faster here.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Ateet: Aryna Sabalenka will be aiming to make a hat-trick of the Australian Open title and she has a decent draw to navigate. Sabalenka wasn’t at her best in Brisbane but it was still enough to win the title. Sloane Stephens has started the year with two losses and doesn’t seem to be in any form. The American will have to play at her best to keep this close.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
Jordan: Stephens could not be playing the two-time defending champion at a worse time. She is on an eight-match losing streak and experiencing the most challenging moment of her career. There is no pressure on the American, but that is unlikely to prevent a heavy defeat.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2
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Anna Blinkova vs Daria Saville
Tope: This promises to be cracking match that can go either way but I’ll back the Australian who hasn’t lost three consecutive matches in a year and will have the advantage of a home crowd.
Prediction: Saville in 3
Ilemona: Daria Seville’s best result whilst competing at her home Slam were fourth-round finishes in 2016 and 2017. A solid start to the season will give her the confidence to match or best that record. Blinkova will keep things close but the home support should push Saville across the line.
Prediction: Saville in 3
Ateet: The memories of beating Elena Rybakina here in a historic match would still be fresh for Blinkova. The Russian hasn’t won a lot of matches since the 2024 Australian Open and will look to get back on track. Daria Saville has lost both matches this year but playing at her home Slam should give her confidence. I have no favourites in this one but will go with Blinkova.
Prediction: Blinkova in 3
Jordan: Expect plenty of gruelling rallies in this battle. Blinkova is the more aggressive player, but doesn’t not possess overwhelming firepower. Saville’s fighting spirit in front of her home fans might give her a slight edge.
Prediction: Saville in 3
Cristina Busca vs Chloe Paquet
Tope: Two players in a torrid form arrive in Melbourne for their second main draw appearance. But Cristina Bucsa has a better Australian Open pedigree having reached the third round in 2023 and rightly starts at the favourite. She should have enough to defeat Chloe Paquet.
Prediction: Bucsa in 3
Ilemona: Both players are low on confidence with match wins few and far between. The winner will likely come down to who finds their rhythm in the match earlier. This will remain a toss-up for the most part with Busca holding a slight edge.
Prediction: Busca in 3
Ateet: Both players are coming into this match in horrible form but Bucsa has a better record in Melbourne. The Spaniard has won two matches before at the Australian Open while Paquet is only playing in her second main draw match. Bucsa should edge this out.
Prediction: Bucsa in 3
Jordan: Bucsa is an awkward player to face and hits the ball much flatter than most other Spanish players on the WTA or ATP Tour. She has also improved in the last 12 months, and will likely have too much for Paquet.
Prediction: Bucsa in 2
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Nao Hibino vs Marta Kostyuk
Tope: On paper, Marta Kostyuk should have the edge here but Nao Hibino has started the season in significantly more impressive fashion than her opponent. If she can reproduce her qualifying form, she should stand a good chance of reaching the second round.
Prediction: Hibino in 3
Ilemona: Marta Kostyuk has had a slow start to the year, going 0-2 so far in her matches. Hibino who had to fend off some tricky tests in the qualifying rounds will look to increase that tally to zero wins in three and I back her to do it and level the head-to-head.
Prediction: Hibino in 2
Ateet: Marta Kostyuk is on a three-match losing streak and will look to break that against Nao Hibino, who has just two match wins here in seven appearances. The Ukrainian’s form is not great but Hibino doesn’t have the weapons to disrupt her. Last year’s quarterfinalist Kostyuk should win this easily.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Jordan: Hibino is a gritty opponent who always fights until the last point. However, Kostyuk should prevail comfortably. The Ukrainian’s athleticism is better than her opponent’s, taking away Hibino’s biggest strength, and she also has more firepower.
Prediction: Kostyuk in 2
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
