The bottom half of the women’s draw will return to Australian Open action on day three in Melbourne as they seek a place in the third round. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for all 16 matches on the schedule, including Simona Halep vs Ajla Tomljanovic, Naomi Osaka vs Caroline Garcia and Serena Williams vs Nina Stojanovic, with our panel of Jim Smith, Yesh Ginsburg and Fraser Learmonth offering their picks for this slate of matches. Who will reach the last 32?
Australian Open Day Three Predictions
Iga Swiatek vs Camila Giorgi
Jim: This is a tough test for Iga Swiatek so early in a Grand Slam. But the Pole wore her newfound status as a Major champion lightly in the first round, where she thrashed Arantxa Rus, and if she can maintain that level, she should have just about too much for the Italian Camila Giorgi.
Prediction: Swiatek in 3
Yesh: Swiatek looked in strong form in her first match at the Australian Open. Giorgi might have the game to keep up if she’s at her absolute best, but that’s not something we ever see for long.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
Fraser: Swiatek looked back to her old self in her first-round match. The Polish star has great power and shot variety when everything is clicking. She faces a tricky customer in Giorgi. The Italian can redline her game and when she is hitting her mark she is a tough customer. But Swiatek should have the variety to disrupt Giorgi and take her time away.
Prediction: Swiatek in 2
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Aryna Sabalenka vs Daria Kasatkina
Jim: If there were concerns about Aryna Sabalenka losing her edge after her winning streak was snapped in the first round at the Gippsland Trophy by Kaia Kanepi, the Belarusian put them to rest by hammering Viktoria Kuzmova in the first round. Daria Kasatkina impressed too, but the conditions look to be favouring the big-hitters and there are few who can call upon more power than Sabalenka.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Yesh: Sabalenka can be a world-beater, but she can also be inconsistent. Kasatkina, meanwhile, is trying to recover from a tremendous lack of form over the past year or two. The Russian looks better that she has of late, but probably not enough to stick with Sabalenka over three sets.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Fraser: Kasatkina is playing better tennis this year than she has done in a long time. However, she is still a way off the form that saw her make the top ten. Sabalenka, on the other hand, just broke into the top 10 after winning three tournaments on the bounce. Kasatkina does have the kind of variety in her game that Sabalenka occasionally struggles with, so this may be a close match, but Sabalenka is playing too well to pick against at the moment.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
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Bernarda Pera vs Zarina Diyas
Jim: Bernarda Pera looked to have been handed a tough first-round draw against Angelique Kerber, but she made very light work of the three-time Grand Slam champion. That might say as much about where Kerber’s game is at as it does Pera’s, but it was still hard not to be impressed by the American’s performance. Expect her to have too much for Zarina Diyas.
Prediction: Pera in 3
Yesh: Pera did well to win her opening match at the Australian Open against Kerber, and she’s been rewarded with an easier second round than her first. The American should cruise into the third round in Melbourne.
Prediction: Pera in 2
Fraser: Both of these players scored convincing wins in the first round. However, Pera’s win over Kerber was certainly the more impressive of the two. The left-handed American has the game to trouble most players on the women’s tour when she is at her best, whilst Diyas plays incredible tennis in fits and bursts and could well win this if she finds one of those bursts in Melbourne. However, the more likely result is a third-round showing for Pera.
Prediction: Pera in 3
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Rebecca Marino vs Marketa Vondrousova
Jim: It was good to see Rebecca Marino make a winning return to Grand Slam action. But whilst her 6-0 7-6 win over Kimberly Birrell was impressive, Marketa Vondrousova should provide rather more opposition. If the Czech plays anything like her best tennis, she’ll be the player to move onto the third round at Melbourne Park.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Yesh: 2019 French Open finalist Vondrousova looks to be back in strong form, and she shouldn’t have any trouble with the Canadian qualifier here.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
Fraser: It’s hard to know what to make of Marino. The Canadian took an indefinite break from tennis in 2013 and has featured almost exclusively on the ITF circuit since her comeback, but it can’t be forgotten that she was once ranked inside the top 40. However, Vondrousova is a rising star and looks in great form after a semifinal appearance in last week. She should have more than enough to move on here and looks set for a big tournament having put her injury woes behind her.
Prediction: Vondrousova in 2
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