{"id":23299,"date":"2020-01-20T00:01:37","date_gmt":"2020-01-20T05:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/?p=23299"},"modified":"2020-01-19T23:28:31","modified_gmt":"2020-01-20T04:28:31","slug":"australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-vondrousova-kuznetsova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2020\/01\/20\/australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-vondrousova-kuznetsova\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian Open Day 2 Women\u2019s Predictions Including Marketa Vondrousova vs Svetlana Kuznetsova"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Tuesday is Day 2 of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/australian-open\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Australian Open<\/a>! Assuming the weather cooperates, we&#8217;ll wrap up the first round on Tuesday in Melbourne. Who will win? In addition to our <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/2020\/01\/18\/2020-australian-open-roundtable-predictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pre-tournament predictions<\/a>, we&#8217;re trying to analyze as many individual matches as we can for you. Each set of predictions contains four matches. In addition to this set, we also have predictions featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/2020\/01\/20\/australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-vekic-sharapova\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Donna Vekic vs Maria Sharapova<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/2020\/01\/20\/australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-bertens-begu\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kiki Bertens vs Irinia Camelia Begu<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/2020\/01\/20\/australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-mladenovic-pliskova\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kristina Mladenovic vs Karolina Pliskova<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/2020\/01\/20\/australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-brady-halep\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jennifer Brady vs Simona Halep<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/2020\/01\/20\/australian-open-day-2-womens-predictions-anisimova-diyas\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amanda Anisimova vs Zarina Diyas<\/a>. Predicting this set of matches are Tracey Essex, myself (Yesh Ginsburg), and Pablo Mosquera.<\/p>\n<h2>Australian Open Day 2 Women\u2019s Predictions<\/h2>\n<h4><strong>Elise Mertens vs Danka Kovinic<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><em>Tracey:<\/em><br \/>\nElise Mertens fell to a resurgent Heather Watson in the quarterfinals in Hobart. After dropping a mere three games through the first two rounds, the top seed couldn\u2019t convert in the crucial moments and suffered a three-set loss. Danka Kovinic will boost the sixteenth seed\u2019s confidence as the Belgian should command in this match up.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Mertens in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Yesh:<\/em><br \/>\nMertens is the better player and in better form right now. I would be surprised if this is at all close.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Mertens in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Pablo:<\/em><br \/>\nAfter a pair of down years, the Montenegro native roared back into the WTA Top 100 last season on the back of 47 wins and three ITF titles. However, I think her decision not to play a warm-up event will backfire. Mertens is too solid to be ambushed by Kovinic.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Mertens in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"vYBcdDh0S6Vy_uBSEw2lSQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1199825105\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'vYBcdDh0S6Vy_uBSEw2lSQ',sig:'cz9x9ai-Wwl0-sqGY-we0gwJut80zr6_yqwSFikVRe0=',w:'396px',h:'594px',items:'1199825105',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Belinda Bencic vs Anna Karolina Schmiedlova<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><em>Tracey:<\/em><br \/>\nWhile Bencic suffered a disappointing loss to Danielle Collins in Adelaide, I\u2019m confident she\u2019s regrouped and will start strong in Melbourne.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Bencic in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Yesh:<\/em><br \/>\nBencic hasn&#8217;t played poorly in 2020, but she has been losing matches. She doesn&#8217;t seem to have that top gear right now that lets her put away opponents. That probably won&#8217;t cost her against Schmiedlova, but it could be trouble deeper in the tournament.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Bencic in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Pablo:<\/em><br \/>\nIt wasn\u2019t the sharpest start of the 2020 season for Bencic, who lost her opener in Shenzhen and got dismantled by Danielle Collins in Adelaide. She\u2019s definitely a candidate to lose early at Melbourne Park, but it won\u2019t happen against Schmiedlova. The Slovakian, currently ranked outside the top 200, shut down her 2019 campaign after <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/wimbledon\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wimbledon<\/a>.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Bencic in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"cPSmPq5gTI1aad6QOcxOAA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1199742191\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'cPSmPq5gTI1aad6QOcxOAA',sig:'M4QHjhgazX_TSBU3153_GicBpkOM6Pv1uVZaA8obN4I=',w:'396px',h:'594px',items:'1199742191',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Danielle Collins vs Vitalia Diatchenko<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><em>Tracey:<\/em><br \/>\nSpunky American Danielle Collins is in exceptional form. She reached the Adelaide semis, where she fell to eventual champion Ash Barty. Expect Collins to make a deep run, starting with a commanding win in her opener.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Collins in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Yesh:<\/em><br \/>\nCollins likes hard courts and is in some of the best form of her career. She should continue to be an inspiration to all NCAA tennis players.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Collins in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Pablo:<\/em><br \/>\nFew if any players inspire me with more confidence than the former University of Virginia star leading into the Australian Open. Even though Diatchenko completed a tremendous 2019 season with seven total titles, Collins should shred her to pieces based on recent performances.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Collins in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"nCPgRe-wRrxiQSYHJF8C0w\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1200079328\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'nCPgRe-wRrxiQSYHJF8C0w',sig:'1eA6UEAhwjc2chsvfrfqtR2Q5YPlfc4daMM714MAiJQ=',w:'385px',h:'594px',items:'1200079328',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Marketa Vondrousova vs Svetlana Kuznetsova<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><em>Tracey:<\/em><br \/>\nCzech rising star <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/2019\/06\/07\/marketa-vondrousova-reaches-first-grand-slam-final\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marketa Vondrousova<\/a> showed strong in Adelaide. She dropped just three games leading up to her quarterfinal clash with World #1 Ash Barty. The lefty can handle all the power you can throw at her, but might struggle with crafty play and strategic style shifts. Thankfully, Kuznetsova doesn\u2019t change up her game. She just comes at you with deep penetrating shots and powers through the open court. Expect Vondrousova to handle that well and move through to the second round.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Vondrousova in 2<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Yesh:<\/em><br \/>\nIt&#8217;s hard to pick against Vondrousova after her run to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordontennis.com\/2019\/06\/07\/vondrousova-defeats-konta-reach-french-open-final\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">French Open final<\/a> last year. On the other hand, injury issues kept her out of competition for most of the rest of the year. What kind of form is she in? And is it enough to take out the formerly-elite but still-formidable Russian? I don&#8217;t know the answer, but it should be a lot of fun to find out.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Vondrousova in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Pablo:<\/em><br \/>\nWithout a doubt, one of the premier duels of first round. Lefty vs righty. Youth vs experience. The Roland Garros finalist is a superstar in the making, but she\u2019s still rusty after a wrist surgery sidelined her for five months after Wimbledon. Sveta may not be a title contender in her 17th participation at Melbourne Park, but she won\u2019t fold right away.<br \/>\n<em>Prediction: Kuznetsova in 3<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"zmN67RSNSzRGI9Rx9BFI2Q\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1193832427\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'zmN67RSNSzRGI9Rx9BFI2Q',sig:'gQGkgLpwKlIOTrrYWWN1CfOkx35xcRl2yAYtIQu3N3k=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1193832427',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tuesday is Day 2 of the Australian Open! Assuming the weather cooperates, we&#8217;ll wrap up the first round on Tuesday in Melbourne. Who will win? In addition to our pre-tournament predictions, we&#8217;re trying to analyze as many individual matches as we can for you. Each set of predictions contains four matches. In addition to this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1601,"featured_media":23329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[5320,4381,2363,266,10422,2773,10421,8537,1412,10423,884,10420,179,2373,2369,922],"class_list":["post-23299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-predictions","tag-anna-karolina-schmiedlova","tag-australian-open-day-2-predictions","tag-australian-open-predictions","tag-belinda-bencic","tag-belinda-bencic-vs-anna-karolina-schmiedlova-prediction","tag-danielle-collins","tag-danielle-collins-vs-vitalia-diatchenko-prediction","tag-danka-kovinic","tag-elise-mertens","tag-elise-mertens-vs-danka-kovinic-prediction","tag-marketa-vondrousova","tag-marketa-vondrousova-vs-svetlana-kuznetsova-prediction","tag-svetlana-kuznetsova","tag-tennis-picks","tag-tennis-predictions","tag-vitalia-diatchenko"],"modified_by":"Yesh Ginsburg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1601"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23299"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23299\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}