The first round of the women’s singles at the Australian Open concludes on Day 3 of the event. The final 20 matches of the round should provide blockbuster entertainment, including multiple meetings of former Slam champions. As always, we at LWOT share our thoughts on all the matches. We split the 20 matches between this and four other articles. Those articles feature Elena Rybakina vs Karolina Pliskova, Victoria Azarenka vs Camila Giorgi, Jessica Pegula vs Rebecca Marino, and Iga Swiatek vs Sofia Kenin. Predicting these matches are Jack Edward, Glenys Furness, and Jordan Reynolds. Who do you think will advance?
Australian Open Day 3 Women’s Predictions
Daria Kasatkina vs Peyton Stearns
Jack:
Despite her recent run of losses, Stearns is definitely one to watch in the future. It won’t be a repeat of last year’s annihilation at the French Open but I do think Kasatkina is just a little too wily for the inexperience of the American.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 3
Glenys:
The Russian is coming into this Slam off the back of a runner up place in Adelaide and a quarterfinal in Brisbane. The American has suffered early losses in the warm up events. Stearns also trails the head to head. Kasatkina will be full of confidence and will take this one
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Jordan:
This is a very hard draw for Stearns. Kasatkina has the consistent pattern of struggling a lot against players ranked near the top, but being one of the best at avoiding upsets against players below her in the rankings. She brings the same consistency to almost every match. Stearns will have to be aggressive, and hope she is even more accurate than normal to hit through Kasatkina. I doubt it will end successfully for the American, though.
Prediction: Kasatkina in 2
Qinwen Zheng vs Ashlyn Krueger
Jack:
I’ve got few doubts about the potential of Qinwen Zheng. Perhaps it’s too early for that potential to be fully realized but she should have no problems coming through her early rounds here in Australia, even against last year’s champion in Osaka in Ashlyn Krueger.
Prediction: Zheng in 2
Glenys:
The Chinese has not played an official main tour event yet this season but is seeded here. Krueger has played a couple of warm up events but lost early. This really should only go one way, the seed should ease through this will little bother.
Prediction: Zheng in 2
Jordan:
There will be powerful hitting throughout this match. Both players like to keep the rallies as short as possible, with big serving and strong groundstrokes. Krueger had an incredible run to the title at the Japan Women’s Open last September while ranked outside the Top 100, showing her ability. However, Zheng has shown she can produce that aggression more consistently, and I will back her.
Prediction: Zheng in 3
Anna Blinkova vs Cristina Bucsa
Jack:
I really like Bucsa’s game. She used her court craft to defeat Blinkova as recently as last month in Limoges. It’ll probably be close in these quick conditions but I think her intelligence on the court will make the difference once again.
Prediction: Bucsa in 3
Glenys:
The Spaniard leads the head to head and made the second round in Adelaide; she did, however, make the semifinal in doubles at Brisbane. Blinkova has lost early in the two warm up events she played. There is not much separating them in terms of ranking, they are one position apart. This will be a very good match.
Prediction: Busca in 3
Jordan:
Both these players are fierce competitors. There is likely to be a lot of long rallies and it could be a real battle. I will give Bucsa the edge, but this could easily go either way.
Prediction: Busca in 3
Emma Raducanu vs Shelby Rogers
Jack:
Both players are coming back from injury but it’s Raducanu that’s likely to feel the fresher of the two. Rogers is literally playing her first match back here in Australia and she wasn’t in particularly good form before she stopped playing. I think the 2021 US Open champion will repeat her win over the American.
Prediction: Raducanu in 2
Glenys:
A rematch of the US Open match in 2021 which is the year that the Brit stormed through from qualifying all the way to the title. However, since then the Brit has not had very good results. Surgery ended last season early (April) and this season is the start of the comeback from the multiple surgeries. Rogers hasn’t played an official main tour event since Wimbledon last season so there is no way of knowing what her form is like.
Prediction: Raducanu in 3
Jordan:
A clash between two players on the comeback trail. Raducanu played her first tournament in nine months in Auckland, while this is Rogers’ first event since Wimbledon. 2021 US Open champion Raducanu looked impressive in her first tournament back, and having those matches under her belt could make an important difference here. The Brit to advance to the second-round.
Prediction: Raducanu in 2
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
