We wrap up the first round of the 2022 Australian Open on Day 2. That means there are 32 women’s matches scheduled. As always, we here at LWOT are going to offer you our thoughts on all the matches. We split up the matches into articles with four matches each, so that means eight articles. The other seven articles feature Anett Kontaveit vs Katerina Siniakova, Simona Halep vs Magdalena Frech, Iga Swiatek vs Harriet Dart, Angelique Kerber vs Kaia Kanepi, Emma Raducanu vs Sloane Stephens, Garbine Muguruza vs Clara Burel, and Petra Kvitova vs Sorana Cirstea. Predicting this set of matches are Andrew Watson, Johnny Connell, and Jim Smith.
Australian Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions
Shelby Rogers vs Ana Konjuh
Andrew:
Tough match. Konjuh has recovered well from a serious injury that derailed her progress for a very long time. But Rogers is a tough cookie, especially on quicker surfaces so I think she will pull out a victory here.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
Johnny:
A battle between two big hitters. Rogers has generally had the better results of the two in recent times, but I think Konjuh is the better player and better suited to the quicker conditions in Melbourne. If Konjuh is on her game, I suspect she will be too strong here as she will take time away from Rogers and make her uncomfortable.
Prediction: Konjuh in 3
Jim:
Shelby Rogers and Ana Konjuh have both played some good tennis so far this season, with the Croatian in particular impressive with back-to-back quarterfinal finishes. If she can stay healthy, expect her to string more good periods of form together. But for now, Rogers power should see her safely into the second round in Melbourne.
Prediction: Rogers in 3
Su-jeong Jang vs Danka Kovinic
Andrew:
Jang showed no mercy in qualification here. Six sets played, six sets won, and in dominant fashion. However, Kovinic tends to do well when up against qualifiers/wildcards in Slams. The Montenegrin will know that she needs to win matches like this to remain inside the top 100 so she will be focused on that and grind out a win.
Prediction: Kovinic in 3
Johnny:
Jang had a great run through qualifying and is very much capable of continuing that run with a win over Kovinic. Kovinic is in terrible form and is unlikely to enjoy the quick conditions in Melbourne. Jang is used to the conditions having come through qualifying, she looks the more likely winner here.
Prediction: Jang in 3
Jim:
Jang Su-jeong has rather come from nowhere at this year’s Australian Open. She has never played in the main draw at a Major before and hadn’t come particularly close to doing so since twice reaching the final round of qualifying in 2017. But she was superb in qualifying and has been handed a relatively kind draw here. Expect her to take advantage.
Prediction: Jang in 3
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Misaki Doi vs Kristina Kucova
Andrew:
Doi won this match two weeks ago to make the career H2H 3-0. No reason to believe there will be a change in form this time around.
Prediction: Doi in 3
Johnny:
Doi beat Kucova a few weeks ago in Adelaide on her way to the semifinals. The quick conditions in Melbourne suit Doi better than Kucova. Doi is the logical choice here given those factors, but she isn’t the most consistent player in the world.
Prediction: Doi in 3
Jim:
Misaki Doi has played some good tennis of late. Certainly better tennis than Kristina Kucova who has gone 1-2 so far this season and lost to Doi two weeks ago in Adelaide. There doesn’t seem to be any compelling reason to expect a different outcome this time around.
Prediction: Doi in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Storm Sanders
Andrew:
Oooh I think there could be an upset here. Sabalenka is struggling really badly at the moment with double faults. 21 in her last match and 18 in the match before. If that is repeated then it’ll be tight because she will still do well in rallies but that’s a lot to give away. Hopefully she has fixed the problem but I’m going to take a chance on the wild card going through.
Prediction: Sanders in 3
Johnny:
Sabalenka’s start to the season couldn’t have gone much worse. She has simply forgotten how to serve; she has no second serve. Unless Sabalenka has dramatically improved her serve since her last match a week ago, I don’t think she can beat anyone right now. Sanders is a player on the rise and will have the support of the crowd. The crowd could be a factor here, if Sabalenka’s serve goes missing early, the crowd will get into her, could get ugly.
Prediction: Sanders in 3
Jim:
Arnya Sabalenka has got off to a miserable start this season. She’s hit 39 double faults in two matches and unsurprisingly lost both. Still young, coming off the best season of her career, and prone to struggles with the mental side of the game, it’s not a great surprise. Sabalenka will bounce back, but she might have to suffer a bit first.
Prediction: Sanders in 3
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