With a host of star names set to kick off their campaigns at the Australian Open, there should be no shortage of entertaining tennis for the fans in the Victorian capital. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, Garbine Muguruza vs Margarita Gasparyan, Belinda Bencic vs Lauren Davis, Ash Barty vs Danka Kovinic, Karolina Muchova vs Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Pliskova vs Jasmine Paolini, Victoria Azarenka vs Jessica Pegula and Sofia Kenin vs Maddison Inglis. Our panel of Jim Smith and Yesh Ginsburg are making their picks for this set of matches.
Australian Open Day Two Predictions
Ludmilla Samsonova vs Paula Badosa
Jim: Ludmilla Samsonova impressed in coming through the qualifying in Dubai, but she did not look quite so sharp at the Yarra Valley Classic, losing 1-6 2-6 to Tsvetana Pironkova in the first round. She should be more competitive against Paula Badosa, but the Spaniard is the higher-ranked player for a reason.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
Yesh: Badosa is a rising player who is constantly improving. She’s better on clay, but she’s getting better on hard courts as well. Samsonova, meanwhile, is a decent but inconsistent player. This could definitely be a tight one, but the Spaniard has the advantage.
Prediction: Badosa in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Kristina Mladenovic vs Maria Sakkari
Jim: This match throws up an interesting contrast between a player in Maria Sakkari who has succeeded in maximising their talent and one in Kristina Mladenovic who has signally failed to do the same, at least in singles. Expect the Greek to maintain her fine start to 2021.
Prediction: Sakkari in 2
Yesh: This is an amazing first-round match. Mladenovic is unlucky to be unseeded and is a former top player. Sakkari, meanwhile, is a current top player, whose power and movement make her able to beat anyone in the world. Expect a great match here.
Prediction: Sakkari in 3
Embed from Getty Images
Chloe Pacquet vs Mayar Sherif
Jim: This is a big opportunity for both Chloe Pacquet and Mayar Sherif. Both impressed in coming through the qualifying in Dubai, but faltered at the warm-up events in Melbourne. Expect a close contest, but Pacquet has the advantage in terms of experience and that might just prove to be decisive.
Prediction: Pacquet in 3
Yesh: Sherif was brilliant in qualifying, and looks to set a new standard for Egyptian women in tennis. Paquet is a decent qualifier as well, but looks nowhere near in Sherif’s form right now.
Prediction: Sherif in 2
[pickup_prop id=”4641″]
Danielle Collins vs Ana Bogdan
Jim: Danielle Collins doesn’t seem likely to return to the Australian Open semifinals, but the American should enjoy the fast conditions in Melbourne and it would not be a surprise were she to reach the second week. At any rate, she should have too much for Ana Bogdan.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Yesh: Collins can be inconsistent, but she always brings her best tennis to the biggest events. She broke out at the Australian Open two years ago with a memorable run to the semifinals. Expect that to continue here.
Prediction: Collins in 2
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
