The second round starts on Day 3 of the Australian Open. We’ll see 16 women’s matches on Wednesday in Melbourne to determine who will move on to the next round. As always, we here at LastWordOnTennis will share our writers’ predictions on all the matches. We split the day’s matches between four articles. Our other three articles today feature Coco Gauff vs Emma Raducanu, Iga Swiatek vs Camila Osorio, and Danielle Collins vs Karolina Muchova. Predicting this set of matches are Jim Smith, Nurein Ahmed, and Jakub Bobro.
Australian Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Jelena Ostapenko vs Anna Bondar
Jim:
One can never be quite sure what to expect from Ostapenko, but the Latvian looked sharp in the first round, dismissing Dayana Yastremska 6-4 6-2. Bondar had to work rather harder for her win over Ana Bogdan and it is hard to see how she will be able to neutralise Ostapenko’s formidable power.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Nurein:
Bondar served a stunner by taking down Bogdan in her opening round, but can she withstand a the ferocious and volatile Ostapenko? I doubt it. On the back of such a near-perfect performance against Yastremska, the Latvian is poised to advance.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Jakub:
Ostapenko got off to a nice start in Melbourne with a straightforward win over Dayana Yastremska. Bondar got her career-first slam main draw victory over Ana Bogdan. Unless Ostapenko implodes, the Latvian should win out here.
Prediction: Ostapenko in 2
Bianca Andreescu vs Cristina Bucsa
Jim:
Andreescu’s first-round win over Marie Bouzkova was very impressive, if rather bad-tempered. Her reward is what looks like a comparatively straightforward clash with Bucsa. The Spaniard is in good form after her run through the qualifying, but Andreescu is a cut above any of the opponents she has faced so far.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Nurein:
Andreescu is one of few WTA players who could win a match purely due to her talent. If she starts to string back-to-back wins, her optimism and confidence will go up a notch. I would be shocked if she doesn’t win here.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Jakub:
Andreescu has gotten off to an impressive start in Melbourne, dropping just six games against Marie Bouzkova. The Canadian could be a very dangerous opponent to Swiatek in the third round and I fully expect her to beat Bucsa here.
Prediction: Andreescu in 2
Jil Teichmann vs Lin Zhu
Jim:
Teichmann has made a solid start to her season, winning four of her first five matches, and will be looking to continue that good run of form at Zhu’s expense. She may need to be at her best to do so, with Zhu impressing in the first round, but Teichmann is the better player and her best should be enough to see her into the third round.
Prediction: Teichmann in 3
Nurein:
I sensed an upset in Teichmann’s match against Harriet Dart. But despite going down a break, the Swiss southpaw just raised her level and Dart frailties in protecting a lead continue to hold her back. Zhu Lin, meanwhile, tamed the big-serving Rebecca Marino in straight sets, and didn’t let the Canadian hit a single ace. However, expect Teichmann’s versatility and craft to give the Chinese woman a runaround here.
Prediction: Teichmann in 2
Jakub:
Teichmann and Zhu both dropped six games in their opener, Teichmann ousting Harriet Dart and Zhu overcoming Rebecca Marino. It’s a tight match to call but I will lean toward Teichmann here.
Prediction: Teichmann in 3
Jessica Pegula vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich
Jim:
Pegula made a very fast start to her Australian Open, racing past Jaqueline Cristian for the loss of only one game. It would be a surprise if she found things that straightforward against Sasnovich, but this is still a match that she should be winning comfortably and most likely will.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
Nurein:
As far as first rounds go, Pegula’s 6-0 6-1 whitewash boarders on opening day perfection. She’s my top pick to win this year’s Australian Open. I think she’s been knocking at that door at Grand Slams in the past year and I don’t expect her to encounter any big hurdles in the first week.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
Jakub:
Pegula dominated in her opening round, only allowing Jaqueline Cristian one game. Sasnovich dealt with the 15-year-old qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova. In current form, I wonder if anyone can stop Pegula here.
Prediction: Pegula in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
