{"id":11475,"date":"2019-01-14T00:25:06","date_gmt":"2019-01-14T05:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=11475"},"modified":"2019-01-14T00:25:06","modified_gmt":"2019-01-14T05:25:06","slug":"australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-including-venus-williams-vs-mihaela-buzarnescu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2019\/01\/14\/australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-including-venus-williams-vs-mihaela-buzarnescu\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions–Including Venus Williams vs Mihaela Buzarnescu"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s the second day of the 2019 Australian Open<\/a>. We saw some great tennis on Day 1, including a major upset by an upstart American<\/a>. Day 2 will see both Williams sisters in action, and we are here to predict the matches for you, as always. Predicting today are writers Eric Han, Tracey Essex, Brett Margolies, and Jay Sandhu.<\/p>\n

Australian Open Day 2 Women’s Predictions<\/h2>\n

Simona Halep vs Kaia Kanepi<\/h2>\n

Jay:<\/em>
\nThis is a difficult match to predict as we have no idea how well either player will play. Halep hasn\u2019t won a match since the semifinals of Cincinnati, while Kanepi also hadn\u2019t played in a long time. Although Halep lost to the Estonian at the US Open, I believe Halep will play a lot better as her number #1 spot is on the line and should just pull through this match.
\nPrediction: Halep in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Brett:<\/em>
\nSimona Halep didn’t have much luck against Kaia Kanepi in New York, losing in the first round of the US Open<\/a> before the clock even hit 1 PM local time. I think Halep will be on alert after the early loss last time and will get revenge on the veteran from Estonia.
\nPrediction: Halep in 2<\/em><\/p>\n

Eric:<\/em>
\nThough Kanepi is an extremely good player, I simply do not see the current World no.1 and last year\u2019s finalist losing in the first round. This might go three sets, as Halep is currently without a coach, so her tactics might not be the best, but the Romanian should win.
\nPrediction: Halep in 3<\/em><\/p>\n

Tracey:<\/em>
\nI\u2019m sure Kaia Kanepi is looking for a repeat of last year\u2019s US Open. In straight sets, she was able to take out Simona Halep. While that loss came during Simona Halep\u2019s injury plagued 2018, the start of 2019 hasn\u2019t been much kinder. The only match played so far saw Halep lose to Australia\u2019s Ashleigh Barty. Now coachless and without much prep, Halep is up against a match-ready, tough contender. I expect the moments of brilliance typical of Halep but without much prep and no one to keep her nerves at bay, I expect Kanepi will fight through this challenge.
\nPrediction: Kanepi in 2<\/em><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>